Judge approves class-action lawsuit against former Calgary teachers and the Calgary Board of Education (CBE)
A recent ruling by a Calgary judge has paved the way for a class-action lawsuit against former public school teachers to proceed. The suit filed by three former students of John Ware Junior High School names the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), the estate of Michael Gregory, and former teacher Fred Archer as defendants, alleging neglect by the school administration in creating a safe environment and responding inadequately to reports of abuse.
Michael Gregory, who taught physical and outdoor education at John Ware from 1988 to 2006, is accused of sexually abusing female students and physically abusing male students over the years. Investigations surrounding Gregory in 2006 led to his suspension and later, charges of multiple sex offenses followed by his unfortunate suicide. Fred Archer, another teacher at the school during the ’90s, is implicated in similar allegations of abuse.
Justice Michele H. Hollins certified the lawsuit, categorizing victims into different groups based on the abuse they suffered. While the CBE did not dispute the claims of direct negligence, they challenged the idea of vicarious liability concerning Gregory and Archer’s actions due to certain circumstances and locations of the alleged abuses.
The CBE contends that it cannot be held accountable for incidents that occurred outside official school premises or hours, citing the actions of the victims’ parents in granting permissions for activities outside school grounds. Despite this defense, the victims maintain that the abuse began within school environments due to the inappropriate teacher-student dynamic, alleging that school personnel were aware of outside abuse by Gregory and Archer.
The lawsuit has been dropped against Gregory’s widow and their shared landscape contracting company. A spokesperson from the CBE acknowledged the seriousness of the matter, reiterating the board’s commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment, and refraining from further comments while the case is ongoing.
This legal pursuit captures the significant impact and lasting consequences of misconduct within educational institutions, highlighting the importance of strict adherence to anti-harassment and discrimination policies. It certainly brings attention to the need for swift and unequivocal responses to safeguard the well-being of students and prevent the recurrence of such distressing incidents.
