Another parent alleges School District 68 employee acted inappropriately with son
A second parent has come forward with concerns about the actions of an educational assistant who was fired by School District 68 and arrested by the RCMP.
The mother says the man took her son, who has special needs, to a park on four occasions, including once for a fishing trip but other times to allegedly view pornography.
“He (my son) knows right from wrong but he can be very easily persuaded to do something he shouldn’t do,” said the mother, whom CTV News has agreed not to identify. “For an EA to do this to my son or any child is not OK at all.”
The concerned parent contacted CTV News after another parent came forward with similar concerns.
The mother says the educational assistant gave her son gifts and took him on road trips for lunch.
“The only reason my son didn’t want to come forward is he thought he was going to be arrested,” the mother said.
She says she brought her concerns to school district officials, who then contacted the RCMP. She says police have interviewed her son about his dealings with the man.
She says she wants to see stricter regulations for EAs, similar to what teachers face.
“They don’t have licences, so if this man does not get charged, he can just not put this on his resumé and get a job in a different school,” she said. “That kills me inside.”
An educator with the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is offering advice to parents who may find their child in similar situations.
“First and foremost, it’s important to ensure that when a child or student or youth comes forward about impacts of this nature, that they are met with belief,” said Laura Velasquez, a co-director at the centre.
“That can sound like, ‘I’m glad that you told me. I’m very sorry that this happened. I want you to know that it’s not your fault,’” Velasquez said.
She added that while students are taught about so-called “stranger danger,” they aren’t always taught precautions around people they may already know.
“When it comes to people they know and they trust, that sometimes engage in this behaviour, they are often confused of what to do next because they either care for that person or have relationships,” she said.
The RCMP are continuing their investigation. No charges have been laid and the man was released with conditions shortly after his arrest.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Canadian-Israeli man shot dead in Egypt; claim links killing to Gaza
A Canadian man 'of Jewish Israeli descent' has been shot dead in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in a suspected criminal case, a security source said, while a previously unknown militant group said it carried out the attack in reaction to the war in Gaza.