CANADA
CNW
THUNDER BAY, ON, May 11, 2017 /CNW/ – Koskie Minsky LLP in Toronto, and Watkins Law, P.C., in Thunder Bay, Ontario, have commenced a class action against Ralph Rowe, Scouts Canada and the Anglican Synod of the Diocese of Keewatin on behalf of hundreds of aboriginal youth who allege they were sexually abused by Ralph Rowe, who was a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada and a Scout leader.
The claim seeks $110 million in damages for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and vicarious liability from Rowe, Scouts Canada and the Synod of the Diocese of Keewatin.
It is estimated that Rowe has abused as many as 500 aboriginal youth in northern Ontario and Manitoba First Nations communities during the 1970s and 1980s.
The Statement of Claim alleges that during this time, Rowe travelled throughout isolated First Nations communities as a priest of the Anglican Church and a Scout leader. In connection with his roles as a priest and Scout leader, Rowe took young aboriginal boys on camping trips and church outings and hosted children’s activities and sleepovers in various cabins and Mission Houses. It was during these activities that Rowe sexually abused boys in his care.
Rowe has already been found guilty of dozens of counts of sexual assaults perpetrated on young aboriginal boys in remote First Nations communities. A July 2007 sentencing decision from Justice E.W. Stach states, “By way of overview I think it fair to say that from 1975 and continuously until the year end in 1987 Ralph Rowe adopted what, in retrospect, is fairly considered as a purposeful, premeditated, formulary and ultimately predatory approach towards the pursuit of his own personal sexual gratification. More dangerously he was well positioned and well armed to do so.”
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