Former Robert Land Academy staff, students call for stricter vetting at private schools

More allegations of terror at the now-closed Robert Land Academy in West Lincoln have come to light, as former students push for better vetting of private school staff.

At Queen’s Park Thursday, former students and staff spoke further about their experiences at the military-style private boarding school — an institution that is facing numerous lawsuits tied to the allegations.

They’re asking the Ontario government to take further action in protecting students in private schools.

“After Chris’s death, my parents decided to send me to the same place that killed my brother,” said Michael Brown, a former student at Robert Land Academy.

“Word spread that Chris Brown’s brother is attending the academy. I had students tell me that my brother killed himself and it wasn’t an accident. I had staff tell me they knew Chris and compared me to him.”

Harrowing words from a former student at Niagara’s Robert Land Academy.

Brown says his brother Chris and another student were killed after being struck by a train, during an attempted escape from the military-style private institution back in March of 1998.

It was one of many allegations describing abuse, torture and other atrocities at the now-closed boarding school.

“It included me having to eat laundry detergent — I received 12 swats, which would leave me barely able to walk,” said Andrew English, a former student at Robert Land Academy. “I could go on and on about the other punishments I had to go through, some of which pale in comparison for what a lot of my brothers have had to go through.”

Former students and staff from the academy were joined by the Ontario NDP, demanding accountability at Ontario private schools.

The New Democrats say they’re prepared to table a private bill on proposed changes, but are calling on the Ford government to impose protective measures.

“A requirement that all staff perform a criminal records check, a requirement that all teaching staff register with the Ontario College of Teachers,” said Jon Krys, a former Staff Sgt. at Robert Land Academy.

Krys is also calling for health and safety investigations to be regularly conducted, and for an ombudsman to be appointed to investigate complaints.

The Niagara facility in Wellandport announced its closure earlier this year and shuttered its doors in June.

READ MORE: Niagara’s Robert Land Academy closing in June amid abuse allegations

A move the academy says was due to declining enrolment “driven by rising costs” to attend the academy.

Robert Land Academy has been rocked by the allegations for many years, along with reports of students trying to escape, which also included a 2010 story by CHCH News reporting that a student was struck and killed by a car after jumping out of his mother’s vehicle during a trip back to the facility.

Years later, the closed academy is also filing for bankruptcy and faces a number of lawsuits from former students.

“As a result of the bankruptcy filing, all claims are stayed,” said Matthew Lafave, with Preszler Injury Lawyers. “Not just the claims that were already issued, but also any further claims that come forward, so the trustees in this bankruptcy is Deloitte.”

Lafave says he represents roughly 130 clients tied to the claims.

He says trustees say the lawsuits are estimated to be worth $135 million in provable damages.

He says the bankruptcy trustees plan to conduct an out-of-court process to expedite claims against the institution.

“Justice will be served, and I think justice will be served swiftly,” said Lafave. “We’re not going to — there is no scenario that we will stand by and not permit that to happen. So, to be clear, we’re very, very optimistic about this bankruptcy proceeding.”

None of the allegations have been tested in court.

CHCH News attempted to reach out to Robert Land Academy for comment, as well as to better understand its reasoning to file bankruptcy — there has been no response from the institution yet.

The Office of Education Minister Paul Calandra told CHCH News in an email, “The accounts that have come to light are deeply disturbing. No child should ever experience harm at the hands of an adult in a place where they are meant to feel safe.”

The office added, “In Ontario, private schools operate as independent businesses or non-profit organizations and receive no public funding or financial assistance from the ministry. The ministry’s oversight role is limited to the inspection of the standard of instruction at private schools seeking to grant credits toward an OSSD. Allegations of abuse are very serious matters, and we urge that all criminal activities be reported to the police.”

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