Work climate at St-Laurent school under the microscope after coaches arrested

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Spurred by arrests related to allegations of sexual assault, Quebec and the school service center will investigate the “work climate and related events.”

Students return to École secondaire St-Laurent after a break between classes Thursday February 3, 2022. Three basketball coaches at the school have been arrested on charges involving minors.
Students return to École secondaire St-Laurent after a break between classes Thursday February 3, 2022. Three basketball coaches at the school have been arrested on charges involving minors. Photo by John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette

In the wake of the arrests of three sports coaches at École-secondaire St-Laurent in Montreal, the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school service center (CSSMB) announced Monday night that it has hired an outside firm of experts to examine the school’s “work climate and related events.”

Quebec’s Education Ministry has launched its own investigation into the high school.

“Over the past few days allegations concerning the climate at the École secondaire St-Laurent have been reported by different sources.” As the allegations contradict information it has at its disposal, “the CSSMB is very concerned by the situation,” the province’s second largest school service center said in a statement.

Multiple witnesses, including school employees, told La Presse they had tried in vain to report abuses alleged to have been committed by the coaches. A “hyper-harmful” climate composed of verbal assaults and intimidation reigned in the girls’ basketball program, according to the sources.

Last Wednesday, Montreal police arrested Daniel Lacasse, 43, who faces charges of sexual exploitation, as well as Charles-Xavier Boislard, 43, and Robert Luu, 31, who face charges of sexual assault, sexual contact and inciting sexual contact.

The external firm will be asked to establish a “fair portrait” of the situation. The CSSMB says it will take action based on the study’s recommendations and in its statement reaffirmed that “the safety of students and staff remain its priority.”

Psycho-social workers have been deployed at the school over the last few days and a help line has been set up, the CSSMB said.

On Monday evening, Quebec Education Minister Jean-François Roberge posted on his Twitter account that an investigation has been launched in the wake of revelations on the work climate at the school.

Roberge wrote that “students and school personnel must feel confident and safe in our schools.”

Earlier in the day, Quebec Liberal education critic Marwah Rizqy wrote to Roberge calling for an independent inquiry to be launched.

“Recent events at École secondaire St-Laurent have created a shock wave that has gone past the walls of the school,” she wrote. “The article by (La Presse journalist) Alice Girard-Bossé, L’omerta de la direction dénoncée (The silence of the administration criticized), reveals a culture of silence that is troubling, even outrageous.”

On Monday morning, a coalition of organizations called for the emergency adoption of a law to prevent and combat sexual violence in schools.

Anyone who believes they were a victim are urged to call the Montreal police sexual assault squad at 514-280-8502 or contact their local police. Information can also be shared confidentially by calling Info-Crime Montreal at 514-393-1133.



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