Ex-student says closure of Saskatoon Christian college only a “rebrand”

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A former pupil of a scandal-ridden personal Christian college says a letter outlining a plan to shut the power later this yr reveals the extent to which senior college officers are “in mattress with” Saskatchewan’s provincial authorities.

Caitlin Erickson is a lead plaintiff in a proposed $25-million class motion lawsuit being pursued in Saskatoon Courtroom of King’s Bench by former college students in opposition to employees and senior officers at Legacy Christian Academy, previously referred to as Christian Centre Academy.

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She shared Thursday a letter allegedly despatched to a high-level official on the Ministry of Schooling by Marguerite Wiggins, a former vice-principal and present advisory guide for Legacy. Legacy officers have thus far not responded to a request for remark and haven’t confirmed the letter’s authenticity to Postmedia.

Within the letter, Wiggins writes that Legacy plans to shut in June amid falling pupil enrolment blamed on “ongoing allegations” tied to the varsity’s earlier Christian Centre Academy moniker, in addition to its present incarnation as Legacy Christian Academy.

These allegations embody accounts of bodily, emotional and sexual abuse contained within the proposed class motion, none of which have been examined in courtroom.

So far, police have additionally laid felony costs in opposition to 4 folks related to Legacy.

Former fitness center instructor and observe and discipline coach Aaron Benneweis pleaded responsible in October 2023 to the sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a pupil between 2008 and 2012, when she was between 13 and 16 years outdated.

One other three males are on account of face trials on costs of assault with a weapon.

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Within the letter Erickson shared, Wiggins says Westdale Christian Faculty, one other Christian faith-based establishment, plans to restart its operations and take over the present Legacy Christian Academy constructing at 102 Pinehouse Drive.

“The hope is our households will switch to Westdale with out having to proceed beneath the cloud of allegations that’s the present state of affairs,” the letter states.

Erickson famous there are ties between Legacy’s guardian church and Westdale, and that Westdale beforehand employed former Legacy employees. She stated she doesn’t imagine a lot will change at 102 Pinehouse ought to the plan go forward to have Westdale take over the constructing.

“It’s rebrand quantity three,” Erickson stated, referencing Legacy’s earlier identify change. She went on to name for senior figures behind the varsity to “step again” and “re-evaluate” whether or not they need to proceed being concerned in kids’s training.

The scandals surrounding Legacy have led to elevated scrutiny of Saskatchewan’s community of Certified Impartial Colleges, a classification created in 2012 for personal, usually faith-based establishments that obtain provincial funding at a charge of fifty per cent of the per-student funding supplied to public colleges.

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Legacy itself has been topic to a provincially appointed administrator, whereas Grace Christian Faculty, another Saskatoon-based QIS, was shut down in 2022 after its director refused to co-operate with a government-appointed administrator.

The letter Erickson shared consists of Wiggins expressing that Legacy “has very a lot appreciated” the province’s help, significantly during the last decade, earlier than happening to personally thank the senior ministry official in glowing phrases for his work.

Erickson stated it’s “actually disheartening” to see Legacy nonetheless apparently having fun with a comfy relationship with the province regardless of its entanglement in civil and felony courtroom circumstances, including it appears the varsity can apparently “inform” the province what they’re doing, somewhat than ask for permission.

Schooling Minister Jeremy Cockrill was “not accessible” to talk to media after Thursday’s sitting of the provincial legislature. A written assertion despatched to Postmedia Thursday afternoon famous that the Ministry of Schooling “has not obtained notification of the closure of Legacy Christian Academy.”

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The assertion went on to say Cockrill “is conscious” that Westdale is excited about relocating to the power presently occupied by Legacy.

“Ought to this happen, all situations presently in place for Legacy Christian Academy would stay in place at Westdale Christian Faculty,” the assertion concluded.

Matt Love, training critic for the Opposition NDP, stated in an announcement Thursday afternoon that colleges receiving provincial funds “ought to observe the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.”

“I positive hope that the Moe authorities sees this for what it seems to be – a rebrand – however I’m not holding my breath,” Love added,  happening to notice that Legacy “has a historical past of abuse and the Sask. Social gathering nonetheless elevated their funding greater than our public, Catholic, and French colleges bought.”

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