Former students at religious school in Saskatoon file class action

Former students who attended a Saskatoon Christian school and church are asking for more than $25 million for alleged breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, assault, battery, infliction of mental suffering and conspiracy to injure minors.

A class action lawsuit is being launched against 22 individuals affiliated with Mile Two Church and Legacy Christian Academy (previously Saskatoon Christian Centre and Christian Centre Academy), including Keith Johnson — the former pastor of the church and school director and principal — as well as several John Does and Jane Does.

Those named as defendants in the lawsuit worked as teachers, principals, school directors and staff at the church or school.

The plaintiffs named in the case are Caitlin Erickson and Coy Nolin, who have spoken out to local media about their alleged experiences as former students, as well as any other former students of the school who experienced abuse during their time there.

Caitlin Erickson shares a statement with media and supporters outside Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench on Aug. 9, 2022. (Libby Giesbrecht/650 CKOM)

Erickson spoke in front of the Court of Queen’s Bench in Saskatoon on Thursday, sharing that she experienced sexual, physical and emotional abuse during her time as a student.

“Daily intimidation, manipulation, isolation, destruction of self-worth and abuse” were what Erickson and many other students experienced during their time at Christian Centre Academy, Erickson said.

She said they share compounded trauma from their time there.

“Many of us struggle with this trauma every single day of our lives,” Erickson said.

Legal counsel Grant Scharfstein said he expects more individuals to join the growing list of plaintiffs. About two dozen people have already come forward.

According to court documents obtained by 650 CKOM, the former students allege punishments like paddling were doled out regularly for situations as minor as a student not completing their homework or telling inappropriate jokes.

Students could also be paddled for disrespecting those in authority over them at the school or church, for socializing with people who did not attend the school or church, for wearing padding on their buttocks while they were paddled, for being caught within six inches of another student of the opposite sex, and for talking negatively about the school or church.

“The objectives and teaching of the church and school rely heavily on the principal defendants’ viewpoints and teachings, particularly those of its founder Keith Johnson,” the statement of claim reads. “These objectives and teachings permeated the policies and procedures of the school and church.”

The document also references publications by Keith Johnson and Mile Two Church Inc. that encouraged parents and guardians to engage in significant physical punishment to control children’s behaviour, supposedly in accordance with God’s will.

“Sometimes spankings will leave marks on the child,” a quote in the statement of claim reads.

“What is the purpose in spanking our children? Primarily, it is to teach them that sin is wrong, that sin is always punished, and that sin always hurts them more than anyone else.

“Therefore, if we’re going to make a believer out of them, we’re going to need to ensure that the punishment is severe enough to make a lasting impression. Occasionally, a proper discipline may leave welts.”

Scharfstein read aloud a portion of the statement of claim on Thursday afternoon, where it stated that “spanking should be a ritual … regularly repeated in a set, precise manner.”

Grant Scharfstein addresses media outside Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench on Aug. 9, 2022. (Libby Giesbrecht/650 CKOM)

The pages of the statement of claim lay out allegations of physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and sexual abuses, providing specific incidents that happened to students during their time there.

In the document, a director of athletics who worked at the school is named to have allegedly “engaged in sexual relationships with students … and congregants of the church.”

It also alleges that employees and representatives of Mile Two Church Inc. engaged in sexual relationships and sexual fondling with students and people who attended the church.

None of these allegations have been proven in court.

Scharfstein said the legal proceedings for this lawsuit could last up to a decade. Erickson seemed undaunted by the prospect, saying multiple times that this case has been a “long time coming.”

“The staff tried to physically and psychologically break me,” Erickson alleged. “Despite their best efforts, they were not successful and that’s why I’m able to stand here today.”