Class action alleges sexual, physical abuse at private Christian school in Saskatoon

Former students are going to court in an attempt to settle what they describe as decades of sexual abuse and beatings at a private Saskatoon Christian school.

Two students, Coy Nolin and Caitlin Erickson, have filed a class-action lawsuit seeking up to $25 million in damages from what is now called Legacy Christian Academy and its parent organization, Mile Two Church, alleging the two organizations perpetrated and abetted the spanking of students, fondling of minors by church staff and other graphic abuse.

“The Physical Abuse, Non-physical Abuse, and Intimidation Abuse are depraved, abhorrent, reprehensible, and malicious conduct by the Defendants, acting individually and together, to inflict harm upon children,” reads a statement of claim filed at the Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench on Monday.

The allegations have not been proven or tested in court, nor have the 21 named defendants — mostly former church and school teachers and officials — filed a statement of defence in response to the claims.

The suit represents a major step in former students’ battle against Mile Two Church, formerly Saskatoon Christian Centre, a non-denominational Evangelical church in the leafy neighbourhood of Lawson Heights that former students say exercised almost complete control over the social lives of its congregation and students at the attached K-12 school.

The Saskatoon Starphoenix has spoken with a dozen students who attended the school — formerly Christian Centre Academy — from its inception in the mid-1980s until the early 2010s. Most claimed church and school officials had hit them on the buttocks with large, wooden paddles as a form of discipline for perceived indiscretions that included everything from talking back to a teacher to failing to tuck in a chair. The Supreme Court declared corporal punishment of students illegal in 2004 and the vast majority of private schools discontinued the policy far before that.

In a public statement posted to its website, Mile Two Church says things have changed.

“The people that are accused of these actions are no longer here or affiliated with us in any way. We have and will cooperate fully with any officials or authorities that are investigating their actions,” the statement read in part.

CBC News was first to report that some former students have recently filed statements to Saskatoon police alleging abuses during their time at the school.

There is no statute of limitations for such crimes when they concern minors.

On Monday, Erickson estimated 30 students had come forward to investigators.

Police spokesman Joshua Grella confirmed they were engaged in an active investigation but, as of yet, no charges have been laid. Grella said they await a recommendation from Crown prosecutors on whether and how to lay charges.

The civil action initiated by Erickson and Nolin is separate from any potential criminal proceeding.

As a class action, any student who attended the school between the early 1980s and the present day can sign on to the lawsuit, as can any church congregation members who suffered or observed the alleged abuses.

The suit seeks at least $25 million in damages or, in the alternative, at least $1 million in damages from each defendant. It also seeks an injunction that would prevent Mile Two Church from operating a school for minors and injunctions that would prevent any of the defendants from working or serving at a school that works with minors.

Some former church officials named in the lawsuit are presently employed by other private Christian schools.