Former students sue Winnipeg School Division over alleged 1970s sexual assaults

The Winnipeg School Division Administration Building in Winnipeg, Man., on Sept. 18, 2025. (Scott Andersson/CTV News Winnipeg)

Two former students have filed lawsuits against the Winnipeg School Division, alleging they were sexually assaulted in the 1970s at separate schools.

One of the plaintiffs alleges they were sexually assaulted by a teacher at King Edward Community School on Selkirk Avenue “in or about the years 1972 or 1973,” when they were seven or eight years old, according to a statement of claim filed in the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench.

The lawsuit also claims they were physically assaulted by the school’s principal around the same time. Both alleged perpetrators are listed as “John Doe” in the suit, filed on Aug. 29.

“Throughout the period of time that the aforementioned abuse was occurring, the perpetrators used their positions of authority and trust, also the fact that the plaintiff was a young child, to ensure that the plaintiff did not tell anyone about their wrongdoings,” the suit said.

“In order to facilitate abuses, the perpetrators engaged in a pattern of behavior which was intended to make the plaintiff feel that it was unsafe to report the wrongdoings to the perpetrators.”

The suit said Winnipeg School Division is liable for the actions of the perpetrators and that it owed a “fiduciary duty to individuals enrolled in the school.” The court filing also claims the school division failed to supervise and discipline the school employees.

The division “implemented and maintained a system which was designed to cover up the existence of such behaviors, if such behaviors were ever reported,” according to the lawsuit.

As a result, it is alleged the former student suffers from addiction, sexual dysfunction, shame, mistrust of men, and at one point dropped out of school.

The lawsuit is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages, including special damages, punitive damages, and aggravated damages.

A second lawsuit against the school division, filed on the same day, claims that another former student was sexually assaulted by a gym teacher at Shaughnessy Park School. The teacher is also listed as “John Doe” in the second lawsuit and none of the alleged perpetrators are named as defendants in either case.

The alleged assault occurred in either 1977 or 1978 when the student was 10 or 11 years old.

“The perpetrator was, as a result of his position with the defendant, able to take advantage of the plaintiff under the guise of conducting the activities of a gym teacher,” says the suit.

“The (Winnipeg School Division) oversaw the activities at the school, therefore had the power and resources to inspect, check, question, and the duty to oversee all activities in a way that could have prevented the sexual assault from happening.”

The lawsuit claims the school division was negligent and failed to screen, supervise, and investigate the gym teacher.

The former student has since suffered from mistrust of authority figures, “an inability to develop and engage in normal human relations,” mental anguish, and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the suit. They are also seeking an undisclosed amount of damages.

King Edward School currently teaches students from kindergarten to Grade 6, according to the school division’s website, while Shaughnessy Park School on Manitoba Avenue accommodates students up to Grade 8.

Winnipeg School Division is the largest school division in the province.

A spokesperson for the division said they were aware of the claims but are unable to comment further at this time.

None of the claims have been tested in court and no statements of defence have been filed.