Alleged Selkirk school abuse victim settles suit against ex-teacher, Anglican diocese

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This article was published 10/01/2023 (1010 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man who alleged he was sexually and physically abused at a Selkirk boarding school in the early 1980s has settled his lawsuit against a teacher and the local Anglican diocese.

Winnipeg lawyer Israel Ludwig, who represented the Manitoba man who filed the suit in January 2020, confirmed the suit was discontinued for an undisclosed sum in early December.

“My client was happy with the number they offered and that settles the matter, and that’s what we really want – some finality for our client,” said Ludwig on Tuesday.

In a Court of Queen’s Bench statement of claim filed in 2020, the man alleged he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by Kenneth MacKinnon Mealey, a teacher at St. John’s Cathedral Boys’ School in Selkirk from 1981 to 1982.

Mealey performed oral sex on the student, then in grades 9 and 10, and fondled him while he slept, the lawsuit alleged. Mealey was also alleged to have assaulted the student by striking him on the buttocks with a stick.

Ludwig said the defendants, Mealey and the Diocese of Rupert’s Land, were released from the claim, which was discontinued on Dec. 6, Court of King’s Bench records show.

The lawyer said he was not allowed to reveal the dollar figure.

“(But) more importantly, my client was satisfied — I’m glad that the defendants recognized that something really bad happened to my client and are prepared to pay something in compensation of that,” Ludwig said.

The full court filing was not immediately available, but online records show both the diocese and Mealey filed statements of defence in the fall of 2020. CBC reported this week that Mealey denied the allegations, while the diocese denied any involvement in running the school at the time.

On Monday, the diocese and its lawyer in the case, Bernice Bowley, would not comment. Mealey could not be reached for comment.

“The matter is resolved and we have nothing further to add,” the diocese’s Executive Archdeacon Simon Blaikie said in an email.

In 2020, Bishop Geoff Woodcroft told the Free Press St. John’s Cathedral Boy’s School was privately-run and had no affiliation with the Diocese of Rupert’s Land.

“We are deeply grieved and will do what we can to make sure the claimant receives closure,” he said. “We want to see justice for him and healing, but we have no connection to that school.”

The alleged victim claimed he suffers from depression, suicidal thoughts, alcohol addiction and sexual dysfunction as a result of the assaults. He was suing for special damages including medical and pharmaceutical costs, loss of wages and loss of future income.

Mealey was convicted 20 years ago of sexually assaulting other boys at the school during the same time period.

The school — known for its harsh discipline and physically gruelling outdoor exercises — has been closed for 30 years. In 1978, 12 students and one volunteer at an affiliated school in Ontario died after their canoes capsized on Lake Timiskaming.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera