TRURO, N.S. – Eli MacKinnon was just 13 when he was sexually assaulted while in P.E.I.’s care. Nearly seven years later, he’s still dealing with the ripple effects of what happened and, even more so, how the province handled it. Now 20 and living in Nova Scotia, MacKinnon is coming forward about his experience while he was living at a provincial group home for teens during an eight-month period stemming from tensions with his mother. According to documents related to his case, another minor, also in the province’s care, sexually touched him without his consent during an outing at a Charlottetown pool on Dec. 30, 2019. But MacKinnon says there were multiple instances spanning several days, including in rooms that were supposed to be supervised by staff. “It’s been hard to have friends and have relationships too, with family,” he said. “I just became a very angry person for a long time. Depressed.” MacKinnon disclosed what happened to a youth worker, triggering procedures and a safety plan was implemented. But he says that plan didn’t do enough to protect him – and more than five years after the assault, Child Protection Services agreed. In a letter dated July 3, 2025, P.E.I.’s child protection director, Mike Henthorn, and children’s services manager, Cheryl Jamieson, recognized shortcomings in their division’s handling of the incident, and that they contributed to emotional distress that might still be taking a toll. “We again offer our deep regret and our apologies for not doing more to support you in these areas,” the pair wrote. Later that year, in November 2025, P.E.I.’s Office of the Ombudsperson also agreed the division’s response had been unfair. “I am very sorry for what you experienced,” wrote deputy ombudsperson Matthew Chapman. “I hope that you can take some small comfort in knowing that you have helped improve an important service for Island children.” Steps taken and not taken According to the Child Protection Services letter, MacKinnon’s mother was informed following the incident, along with a counsellor to offer support. A child protection social worker conducted interviews and consulted with police. The division encouraged discussions about deciding if and when to report the incident to officers. It also ensured extra staff were present at the group home to supervise his contact with the other youth. But MacKinnon says his mother was informed what happened too late, a couple days after the incident. He says his calls for the other youth to be moved to another group home were dismissed, even though taunting and inappropriate comments persisted. “I didn’t want him near me,” he said. His main complaint, however, is that police weren’t contacted for a proper investigation, while more evidence could have potentially been collected. It wasn’t until spring 2022 that MacKinnon made a formal complaint to police. He says the experience was “eating (him) up inside.” The other youth was charged with sexual assault, and on the Crown’s recommendation completed extrajudicial sanctions, according to the provincial letter. Those are measures outside the traditional court process for those aged 12-17 to take responsibility for an offence. Child protection law expert Rollie Thompson said the most important thing about these investigations is that they’re done quickly, using careful, non-leading questions and interviewing the young people separately. “Before others can pollute what they have to say or influence it, before details start getting lost,” said Thompson, an emeritus professor who co-teaches a child protection law course at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law. In their letter, leaders at P.E.I.’s Child Protection Services recognized that MacKinnon had expressed feeling unsafe, writing that “more could have been done” to support his emotional well-being. That included setting up an immediate interview with police and moving the other youth while the allegations were formally investigated. Changes Today, Child Protection Services’ approach to addressing similar reports has evolved, operating under a different legal framework. OmbudsPEI’s letter says the division has since adopted practices requiring police interviews and promptly separating children when one alleges a sexual assault by another. Asked about those procedures, the province said it separates the youths involved while a report is assessed and investigated. It said interview timelines depend on the circumstances of each case and the child’s needs and safety. In September 2024, the Child, Youth and Family Services Act came into effect. Consistent with United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, it gives children’s views about decisions affecting them due weight in accordance with their age and maturity. It also empowers them to raise concerns or recommendations. “Care plans are developed in collaboration with children and youth, their social workers and, where appropriate, their families and support networks,” a spokesperson for P.E.I.’s Department of Social Development and Seniors told CTV News in a statement. She added that staff receive specialized training that aligns with the Act, with social work procedures being revised to embed a rights-based approach throughout. The province’s child and youth advocate, Marvin Bernstein, has called it “historic, groundbreaking and aspirational,” leading the way for this kind of legislation in Canada. Thompson agrees there’s been progress – but says previous rules set a low bar. “It was such a flawed statute it wouldn’t take much to improve it,” he said. “The fact of the matter is those are just good principles. The older the child the more they should have a say. That’s not rocket science.” Thompson says the real test of any measures is whether they’re consistently put into practice. High caseloads, staff turnover and a shrinking supply of foster homes make that harder, he says. Next steps This summer, MacKinnon filed complaints against two social workers with the P.E.I. Social Work Registration Board related to how his case was handled. In September, the registrar referred them to an investigation committee. And next week, MacKinnon says he’s meeting with that committee. Both social workers deny any wrongdoing, unprofessional conduct or unethical behaviour. “I think if somebody does something wrong, especially if they have authority over children or anybody who doesn’t have a say, they should be held accountable as far as it can go,” MacKinnon said. His hope is that if another child goes through what he did, they’ll be heard and taken seriously when they ask for help. If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:
