Lease terminated for Sask. private Christian school linked to abuse investigation
CBC
A private Saskatoon Christian school's rental agreement is being terminated because of the school's connection to widespread abuse allegations.
Grace Christian School was renting space inside Forest Grove Community Church. Forest Grove officials announced on the church's website Monday that they were terminating Grace Christian's lease, effective Sept. 1.
The provincial government announced last week it was taking over operations of Grace Christian and two other schools. All three schools currently have staff accused of various abuses by more than 30 former students of Christian Centre Academy, now called Legacy Christian Academy, in Saskatoon.
The third school affected is Regent Academy in Prince Albert.
Forest Grove Community Church officials declined an interview request, but sent an email to CBC News Monday afternoon.
"We are grieved for the students and families that will be affected and did not make this decision lightly, but believe it is best for all involved," stated the email.
The first student to come forward, Caitlin Erickson, said it must have been a difficult decision for Forest Grove to evict its tenants and potentially lose significant revenue, but that it was the right decision.
"I think it's very commendable," Erickson said. "I'm hoping that there are others who take the lead after seeing Forest Grove do the right thing, and they come forward and do the right thing as well."
Erickson and more than 30 other former students have filed criminal complaints, launched a class action lawsuit and spoken publicly in recent days. Allegations cover a wide range of abuse including violent discipline, solitary confinement, sexual abuse, an attempted exorcism of 'gay demons' and forced political campaigning for certain candidates.
A former Christian Centre Academy youth pastor said in an interview with CBC News that the allegations are "100 per cent true."
Saskatoon police say they handed the file to Crown prosecutors back in April for consideration of possible charges.
No one from Grace Christian School could be reached for comment Monday afternoon.
Diane Sims has already written her own obituary.
Thirty years after her murder in 1994, Halifax police are still looking for Kimber Leanne Lucas's killer.
When Kevin Campbell took a 1991 Chevy truck in trade at his dealership on Moncton's Salisbury Road in early November, he didn't have it for long.
Quebec mayor says 'one-size-fits-all' language law isn't right for his town where French is thriving
English is not Daniel Côté's first language but he says it's integral to the town he calls home.
As their role in health care continues to grow, nurse practitioners across Canada are looking to Alberta, where nurse practitioners recently formed their own union — but on P.E.I., the nurses' union that represents them says it's doing its job.
As the fallout over fallen buildings in Gore Park continues, Hamilton officials will be turning their attention to other properties.
Fire crews responded to a transport truck fire on the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit.
When the government touts that its auto insurance reforms might curb premiums by $400 come 2027, the ministers and premier don't readily mention what's to come in the three years leading up to that.
Who poses the greater threat to the free speech of Conservative MPs — the Speaker of the House of Commons or the leader of the Conservative Party?
As city council prepares to vote on a temporary shelter village for people experiencing homelessness in Thunder Bay, Ont., opposition is growing among the area's business community.
A Toronto centre for Black art is hosting an exhibition this weekend that exclusively features work by artists from across the African diaspora.