Toronto man pleads guilty to assault at Ontario Camp of the Deaf in historical sex assault case

A Toronto man accused of a historical sexual assault at an Ontario deaf camp pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

The former president of the Toronto Association of the Deaf, who was accused of an historical sexual assault at a summer camp for the deaf in 2003, has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of simple assault.

Steve Burrows, 56, of Toronto appeared in a virtual Parry Sound courtroom Tuesday where he admitted to the lesser included charge of assault for the unwanted touching of a girl’s arm at the Ontario Camp of the Deaf in Seguin Township 22 years ago. Burrows was found not guilty of sexual assault.

As part of his guilty plea to assault, Burrows was granted a conditional discharge by Justice Robin Bellows, along with probation for 18 months. The guilty plea avoided a scheduled trial.

An American Sign Language interpreter assisted Burrows, and the court, by vocalizing his responses.

“Yes, I’m pleading guilty,” he said in American Sign Language.

When asked whether he was guilty of non-consensual touching of the girl’s arm at the Ontario Camp of the Deaf, where he worked in the summer of 2003, Burrows replied, “Yes, I admit that.”

A publication ban prevents the identity of the complainant from being revealed. The woman, like Burrows, is deaf and communicated with the court in American Sign Language.

The Crown told the court important evidence, including interviews, statements and the woman’s diary collected 22 years ago, had been lost and brought about resolution in the case. The matter was scheduled to go to trial.

The woman read her victim impact statement to the court. She said following the incident she immediately came forward to police, but Burrows was not charged at the time.

She detailed a long and difficult struggle in the weeks, months and years that followed. She told the court of the mental challenges she faced, including thoughts of suicide, because of the incident. The woman said after experiencing years of humiliation and trauma she came forward two years ago to provincial police and Burrows was subsequently charged criminally in April 2023.

“It’s time for accountability,” the complainant told the court. “You had groomed me while in a position of trust and power,” she added.

“I’m no longer the vulnerable girl that you exploited,” she said with the assistance of an interpreter. “I’m finally reclaiming my story and strength, and they will never be taken from me again.”

Burrows’ lawyer, Chloe Boubalos, characterized several claims made by the complainants as “unproven allegations” that fell outside the parameters of a proper victim impact statement and reiterated Burrows pleaded guilty to touching the complainant’s arm without her consent.

The judge said she could not consider certain statements made by the complainant as they did not relate to the offence for which Burrows pleaded guilty.

The court, when considering his sentence, heard Burrows completed counselling to help him better understand and exercise safe and appropriate boundaries in his relationships.

Burrows declined to provide comment to the court when offered the opportunity to do so.

As part of his guilty plea and conditional discharge, Burrows is ordered not to communicate with or be within 500 metres of the complainant or witness in the case.