Saskatchewan’s teacher regulator says two former private Christian school staff do not have blanket immunity from historical misconduct proceedings.
Professional misconduct proceedings against two former staff members of a Saskatoon private Christian school can go ahead, after Saskatchewan’s teacher regulator rejected their argument that it had no authority over allegations predating the board’s creation.
The disciplinary committee of the Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board ruled that charges against Dawn Beaudry and Louis Brunelle will proceed. The allegations stem from their time at Christian Centre Academy, later known as Legacy Christian Academy and now Valour Academy.
Beaudry and Brunelle had argued the regulator lacked jurisdiction because the alleged conduct occurred before the SPTRB was established in 2015. The committee disagreed, saying accepting that position would create “blanket immunity” for alleged misconduct before the board existed.
“Public confidence in the profession depends on the assurance that all teachers remain accountable to an effective and continuous regulatory framework,” the committee said in its decision, which is dated March 20 and was posted on the regulator’s website about a month later.
The SPTRB was created as an independent body to regulate Saskatchewan teachers. Before 2015, teacher certification and discipline were handled through the Ministry of Education or membership bodies.
Beaudry’s professional misconduct charges relate to alleged incidents between 1989 and 2013. The allegations include failing to provide adequate instruction and, from 2008, conspiring to conceal criminal activity, including sexual assault, in a way the charge says increased risk to minors in her care. More details about the charges have not been made public. CBC reported that Beaudry, 59, did not respond to a request for comment.
The charges against Brunelle, 73, relate to alleged conduct between 1989 and 2001, including participating in or conspiring to participate in arbitrary and excessive physical punishment of minors. The allegations include repeatedly paddling a female minor, ordering two male students to remove their clothing in front of each other and facilitating or conspiring to facilitate a student’s isolation and confinement at a remote work camp.
Brunelle’s lawyer, Philip Fourie, told CBC his client categorically denies wrongdoing or professional misconduct. Fourie said Brunelle will seek judicial review at the Court of King’s Bench and maintains the regulator does not have retroactive jurisdiction.
Neither Beaudry nor Brunelle faces criminal charges. Both were named as defendants in a proposed $25-million class action alleging abuse at the school. A judge dismissed that lawsuit last year, citing abuse of process over undisclosed settlement agreements with three other defendants; that ruling is under appeal.
The regulator’s registrar, Markus Rubrecht, said the board would not provide further comment while the matter remains ongoing. The next major step will be whether the misconduct proceedings continue before the regulator or are affected by Brunelle’s planned court challenge.
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