Three young Quebecers, including two teenagers, decided to work for a catering service in Ontario. On the spot, they were touched by their employer. Four years later, they won a legal battle in a Quebec court for compensation.
What there is to know
- In 2019, three young women – including two teenagers – were sexually abused by their Quebec employer in Ontario
- They initiated a civil suit in the Superior Court of Quebec
- Their employer was also charged with sexual assault in Ontario and granted a conditional discharge in 2021
- The three victims obtained compensation of nearly $35,000 in total on March 31
Sophie*, Stéphanie* and Mélanie* were aged 15, 16 and 21 when they decided to work for the summer at Tandem Resto Traiteur. This company registered in Quebec provided catering services at a summer camp located in Haliburton, Ontario.
The details of the case are recounted in a judgment of the civil division of the Superior Court of Quebec, rendered on March 31.
What was supposed to be a pleasant summer job turned into a nightmare for the young workers. At the start of the 2019 summer season, their employer, André Paquet, owner of the catering business, began brushing their buttocks and breasts as they struggled to go about their chores.
A few months earlier, Mr. Paquet had pleaded guilty to an offense of attempted voyeurism with a 14-year-old girl. The trader had received a conditional discharge and was subject to a probation order. In particular, he had to respect public order and be of good conduct.
He was still on probation when the three young women started working for him between May 26 and June 25, 2019. They left their jobs on May 1, 2019.er July of the same year. With two other colleagues, they then denounced Mr. Paquet to the Ontario police.
A second discharge
André Paquet has been formally charged with sexual assault and violation of his probation conditions in Ontario. Two years later, in October 2021, he pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of assaulting one of the five female employees who reported him. He admitted to pulling her hair, telling her he was going to show her “how it works,” according to court documents.
In doing so, he was granted a further discharge, on the condition of serving another two years’ probation. The charges against him were dropped at the request of the Ontario Crown. But this decision did not mean that he had been acquitted of the charges of sexual assault, it is specified.
It is in this context that the three young women filed a lawsuit before the Superior Court of Quebec.
Repeat
The touching began on the first day of work of Sophie, aged 15, can we read in the judgment.
Mr. Paquet’s modus operandi was to move around the kitchen or dining room and subtly touch the buttocks of his victims, without stopping. Sometimes he also touched a breast, showing them certain cooking maneuvers.
In the case of Sophie, he would have assaulted her up to 10 times during the few days she was in the service of his company.
The other two victims told similar stories. However, the configuration of the premises allowed Mr. Paquet to circulate “without having to move or touch anyone”, we specify in the judgment.
Thousands of dollars in compensation
It was the youngest of the three, Sophie, who first spoke openly about the touching. Excerpts from text messages sent to his cousin testify to this.
Then on 1er July, she opened up about it to her mother. Sophie’s parents immediately took to the road to pick her up in Ontario. An eight hour journey.
Superior Court Judge Benoit Moulin finally agreed with the three young women, indicating in his judgment that “the version of each of the plaintiffs, in its broad outlines, is credible, probable and trustworthy”.
“Each was the victim of touching on the part of Mr. Paquet, can we also read. There is no doubt that these touches are neither involuntary nor accidental and are of a sexual nature. […] Mr. Paquet’s general denial is no match for the plaintiffs’ versions. »
André Paquet will have to compensate each of them by paying them compensation of $9,500 to $13,500, or a total of $34,500, plus interest and legal costs.
At the time these lines were published, neither Mr. Paquet nor the three victims had responded to the request for an interview with The Press made to their respective lawyers.
* Fictitious names