Another Canadian private school under shadow of abuse allegations

By Rich Bowden May 23, 2008, 14:29 GMT

On Feb 5, 2006, M&C News ran one of its most popular and heartbreaking stories concerning allegations of widespread abuse suffered by children at an elite Montreal school. The report was notable in that the abuse reported in the article was discussed at length in the report's comments field, as old students finally felt free to speak out about their experiences and share their harrowing ordeals with other former students.

Now tragically, another exclusive Canadian school has been accused of failing to prevent similar abusive behaviour towards a number of its students.

The Canadian newspaper The Gazette has reported that eleven former students of Bishop's College School are suing the school for $CAN32 million in a class action over reported sexual abuse by the Rev. Harold Theodore Gibson Forster during the 50s and 60s.

The lawsuit alleges Rev. Forster "used his position of dominance ... to dispense favours, benefits, inducements and punishments," creating an environment where "sexual assault, physical or mental abuse" were commonplace. The plaintiffs are seeking $CAN13 million from the school for liability in hiring, employing and inadequately supervising Forster, as well as $13 million in damages for "breach of duty of care," $4 million in punitive and exemplary damages, and $2 million in aggravated damages.

According to the Gazette, the Rev. Forster worked as a teacher, chaplain, choir director and house master at Bishop's College School between 1953 and 1962, before his death in a train crash in Britain in 1967. 

One of the former students spoke to the Gazette under cover of anonymity and described how he had  suppressed the memories of his abuse for many years.  "I never knew how this had impacted my life, why I didn't trust people, why I had all this rage and anxiety," the source said. He added he had suffered from depression and panic attacks for many years and was unable to sustain any sexual relationship.

"I'm virtually a hermit," the 61-year-old Montreal man told reporter Peggy Curran.

BCS is a culturally diverse, bilingual, co-educational, independent boarding and day school for Grades 7 to 12 (Forms II to VII) located on a 350 acre campus in Lennoxville in the heart of Québec’s historic Eastern Townships.

Founded in 1836, BCS boasts 260 students from 25 countries and has the oldest continuous service corps in Canada .

The school has said it will “defend itself vigorously” against the charges, claiming the three-year limitation period for bringing the case before court has long expired and is “totally inappropriate for a class action," said The Gazette quoting Guy J. Pratte, a top litigator for Borden Ladner Gervais who has been hired by the school.

The current headmaster Lewis Evans has declined comment.