Coaches arrested | An external firm will look into the case of Saint-Laurent school

In the midst of a crisis, the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school service center (CSSMB) mandates an “external firm” to “shed light” on the nature of the work climate at Saint-Laurent high school, where three sports coaches have been accused of sex crimes.

Henri Ouellette-Vezina
The Press

“Over the past few days, allegations regarding the climate at Saint-Laurent High School have been reported by various sources. These allegations being contradictory with the information at its disposal, the CSSMB is very concerned about the situation”, indicates the management of the organization in a brief press release published Monday, at the end of the day.

Earlier this week, Saturday, The Press reported that some employees of Saint-Laurent secondary school tried to denounce, in vain, the verbal and psychological abuse of Daniel Lacasse, a basketball coach accused of sexual exploitation on Thursday. A “super harmful” climate, marked by verbal aggression and intimidation against players, reigned within the women’s basketball program at Saint-Laurent high school, according to what various people have also reported.

Well known in the world of school sports, Daniel Lacasse, the manager of the Montreal establishment’s basketball program, has been accused of sexual exploitation. The other two coaches involved, Robert Luu and Charles-Xavier Boislard, face charges of sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and sexual assault. Mr. Boislard was also charged with sexual exploitation.

The firm’s mandate will be to “establish an accurate portrait of the work climate and shed light on these events,” indicates the service center. He promises “that no effort will be spared to clarify this situation which is taken very seriously”.

In its declaration, the CSSMB undertakes to “take action” by applying the recommendations that could be formulated by the firm. “The safety and well-being of students and staff members remain the priority”, assures the group, whose general manager is Dominic Bertrand, who himself was director of the school for a few years, during the period where the assaults were committed.

In addition to the psychosocial workers who have been deployed to the school premises in the last few days, a “dedicated” telephone line has been activated, it is recalled. “The community will always be encouraged to express themselves openly to the competent authorities”, concludes the management.

Earlier on Monday, a coalition of organizations called for the “swift and urgent” adoption of a bill to “prevent and combat” sexual violence in schools, in response to charges filed against the three coaches of the Saint-Laurent school.

Marwah Rizqy calls for an independent administrative investigation

Liberal MP Marwah Rizqy asks the Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge, to launch an independent administrative investigation “immediately” concerning the “omerta” that allegedly reigned at Saint-Laurent secondary school.

M^me Rizqy, who is the official opposition’s education critic and who represents the riding of Saint-Laurent in the National Assembly, says that “recent events at the secondary school […] have created a shock wave that goes beyond the walls of the school” and that “the very nature of the crisis requires the establishment of a climate of trust in order to build favorable communication links to free the voice of the victims”.

“The article by journalist Alice Girard-Bossé, “The omerta of management” denouncedreveals a troubling, even outrageous culture of silence,” the Liberal MP wrote to the Minister of Education in a letter sent Monday afternoon.

The article in question, published on Saturday by The Pressreveals that employees of Saint-Laurent secondary school have tried in the past in vain to denounce verbal and psychological abuse by Daniel Lacasse, one of the coaches now accused of sexual exploitation.

“Faced with such serious and disturbing allegations and silences with serious consequences, I ask you to immediately initiate an independent administrative investigation, in accordance with the powers automatically vested in you. [dans] the Education Act. The victims have shown enormous courage, it is our duty to support them,” wrote Mr.^me Rizqy in his letter to Minister Roberge.

Hugo Pilon-Larose, The Pressin Quebec