$30M settlement reached in B.C. class-action over alleged abuse at two Catholic schools
A proposed $30‑million settlement has been reached in a class‑action lawsuit brought by former students of two Metro Vancouver Catholic schools over decades of alleged abuse by members of the Christian Brothers.
According to court documents and statements from counsel, the agreement would resolve claims against Vancouver College Limited, St. Thomas More Collegiate in Burnaby and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver. The settlement was reached without a trial and is subject to approval by the B.C. Supreme Court before any compensation is paid.
A hearing to consider approval of the settlement and the proposed claims process is scheduled for April 30 and May 1 in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. The case was certified as a class action in March 2023.
The lawsuit alleges that senior Christian Brothers transferred members with a known history of physical and sexual abuse from the Mount Cashel Orphanage in St. John’s, N.L., to Vancouver College and St. Thomas More between the mid‑1970s and early 1980s, where further abuse is alleged to have occurred. Six Christian Brothers, including Edward English, were moved to the two schools after abuse at Mount Cashel was reported to authorities in Newfoundland in the 1970s. Several of those transferred were later convicted in connection with offences at the orphanage. The Christian Brothers order itself is not a defendant in the B.C. action, having declared bankruptcy in 2011.
The class action began with a lawsuit filed in 2021 by former Vancouver College student Darren Liptrot, who alleged he was abused by English while attending the school in the early 1980s. The class includes people who attended Vancouver College between 1976 and 2013 and St. Thomas More between 1976 and 1989 and who say they experienced abuse by a current or former member of the Christian Brothers. Anyone fitting the class description who did not opt out by November 28, 2024, is a class member.
Under the proposed settlement, a two‑tier compensation process would be available to eligible class members. A first‑tier claim would allow survivors to submit a written description of the abuse and its impact, with compensation of up to $30,000, intended for those with less severe or short‑term effects or who do not wish to provide more detailed information. A second‑tier process would be available for those alleging moderate to severe impacts and could involve additional documentation, identification of witnesses and a formal interview. The settlement materials note that many of the alleged events occurred decades ago and say a lack of documentation will not automatically disqualify a claim.
If approved, the settlement would release the participating defendants from further civil claims related to the alleged abuse by class members who receive compensation. Several individual defendants connected to the Christian Brothers, including English and other named brothers, are not part of the settlement and the lawsuit may continue against them.
In statements posted on their websites, both schools described the settlement as a step forward. Vancouver College said it “remains committed to a trauma‑informed reconciliation process” and that it condemns abuse in any form, particularly involving children. St. Thomas More said the agreement represents “a significant step forward” and that the present‑day school is committed to working with and supporting survivors.
