Roberta Archambault

Roberta Archambault (nee Judd) alleges she was sexually abused by Boleslaw Hubert and Brian Lepanesee while she was a ward of the Children’s Aid Society of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and in foster care. She also alleges physical and mental abuse at the Hubert home.

The following is a brief recap of her testimony at the Cornwall Public Inquiry, 16 November 2006. 

DOB 15 May 1965

Roberta, her five brothers two sisters were placed in foster homes in 1970 she was five.  Roberta and her sister were placed with the Huberts near Morrisburg, Ontario.  Their brothers were placed elsewhere.  She recalls seeing her brothers once the following year.  After that it seems there was no further contact while they were children.  (It seems, but I am not certain, that they children were removed from their home because their mother had an alcohol problem) 

In 1972 she became a permanent ward of the Children’s Aid Society of Stormont Dundas and Glengarry. 

The Hubert Foster Home

Roberta spent ten years at the home of Hannah and Boleslaw Hubert. 

According to her testimony during those years she suffered repeated physical, mental and sexual abuse.  The latter was blocked until recently. 

She understood that she was baggage and at the Hubert’s home only as part of a package deal – they wanted her old sister as company for their daughter.   

Roberta and her sister were not allowed to speak to each other.  If they were caught speaking she was boxed in the ears, hit with whatever Boleslaw Hubert had at hand, or kicked with his steel toe boots.  Her sister’s punishment was to watch.  The learned not to speak. She still bears scars from the physical abuse – one over her nose, from a knife, and another on her leg.  

She testified that Boleslaw Hubert regularly held a gun to her head. He would tell her he could kill her and bury her in the back yard and not one would bother looking for her. 

Once she tried to run away after Boleslaw beat her and tried to throw her down the stairs. She went to friend’s house and told them what was happening.  The Boleslaws were called and back she went. 

Initially the beatings came from Mr. Boleslaw. By the time she was 11 her foster mother started to beat her as well. 

CAS workers visited the home, but there was always advance warning so she could be cleaned up and the “rags” she wore tucked out of sight.  There was no opportunity to tell what was happening because her talks with the worker were always conducted within earshot of the Huberts. 

Sexual abuse

According to Roberta Boleslaw started sexually molesting her when she about eight or nine years old. She suspects Mrs. Hubert knew what was happening because she recalls Mrs. Hubert punching in her in the stomach when she was about eleven and telling her she would make “dam” sure she would never reproduce.  

Attempted suicide

At the age of eleven she attempted suicide.  The child had discovered that Huberts would not allow her to visit and possibly leave the home permanently to love with their older son Raymond and his wife. The pair were kind to her and she was excited and anxious to go. However, a fight erupted between Raymond and his parents over the way the girl was treated.  Her foster parents refused to let her visit. 

The child in turn raided the medicine cabinet and took all the pills she could lay her little hands on.  She passed out.  She recalls the Huberts cleaning her up.  Then it was off to the hospital.  It is unclear how long she was hospitalised.  When she returned “home” the medicine cabinet was locked. 

The first CAS worker

During her early years at Iroquois Public High School years in desperation she contacted her CAS worker, Brian Keough, from the school and told him about the physical abuse.  She met him on a number of occasions, begging, apparently to be taken out of the home.  He apparently would promise to get her out.  She would phone him again.  There were, it seems, a number of such calls and meetings. Keough would meet her in the school. They would sit in Keough’s car in the school parking lot, Keough jotting notes as she recounted details of the physical and mental abuse and begged to be taken out of the home. 

When she told him about Boleslaw putting a gun to her head he said he would investigate to find out if Boleslaw owned a gun and, if so, where he kept it.  She told him she knew where it was kept. 

Finally…

Eventually Roberta left the Huberts.  She spent a brief spell with her mother. When that didn’t work she lived with others who took her in for a spell.  She took to the streets.  Soon after she hit the streets she contacted CAS to see if she could be given a home.  

Lapensee home (Carenick Group Home) 

In 1980 she was placed in a group home near Martintown, Ontario.  

The Carenick Group Home, operated by Edward and Alice Lapensee who had several children of their own, was considered a home for problem children.  

Roberta was 15. 

When she first arrived at the Lapensee group home, aside from the Lapensee children, there were five girls and two boys. Shortly after her arrival the Lapensees purchased an old convent and turned it into a group home for girls.  The boys stayed at the farm which, it seems, was the original Lapensee home and the girls at the old convent. 

Her CAS worker was apparently responsible for every child placed in the home.  Some time after her she moved into the group home her CAS worker Brian Keough was replaced by Mary Miller.   

Roberta testified that the Lapensees had an older son Brian who she believes was married.  She testified Brian Lapensee sexually abused her and several other girls at the home. He would give them liquour. She recalls that several girls became pregnant.  They were sent to Montreal for abortions. 

At some point Mary Miller specifically asked if Brian Lapansee had done anything to her. She denied it because, she said, she was afraid she would end up back on the streets. She didn’t want to lose her home. 

At some point she recalls Miller telling her that Brian Lapansee was not to be around them. 

In 1983 Roberta attempted suicide again.  The attempt came after some Lapenesee family members found out about the abuse. She was told she had ruined it for everyone and she no longer had a home. 

After the suicide attempt she told her CAS worker Mary Miller about the sexual abuse. She told Miller that she had lied to her before.  She told her what Brian did to her sexually.  She told her about the other girls who had been abused and taken to Montreal for abortions. 

Roberta never returned to the home.  From what Mary Miller told her she had understood that Brian would be charged. The police never contacted her.  

The deRondes

Roberta was placed with the deRondes.  They were good to her and tried to help her, but, because of her past, she was apparently afraid to let them touch her. She misconstrued reassuring hugs.  She says to this day she doesn’t like anyone to touch her. In recent years she recognized that they were trying to help and paid a visit to make amends. 

She had always assumed the deRondes knew of her background – assumed the CAS had told them.  During that visit she discovered that they had apparently been told nothing of her past, only that she was a troubled child. 

Searching for proof

In 1992 Roberta approached CAS to get her files. She was searching for proof of what had happened to her, that her mind wasn't playing tricks on her.   

CAS disclosed about five pages.  That was it.  She was told “they could only give me a summary of my life because of second and third parties and whatever reasons. She gave me a bunch of legal reasons.” 

In 1994 she retained a lawyer in a further attempt to access her files.

She received a document referencing accusations of “ill treatment and false accusations” in the Hubert foster home.  

She asked to talk to the “top dog” at CAS.  She met with Richard Abell.  She asked Abell why there was no report on her talks with Bryan Keough, her first CAS worker.  At her insistence Abell contacted Keough who had since moved West. 

Keough apparently denied taking notes and “said that he didn’t write anything down because I was, as far as he was concerned, I was just a liar.”  

Abell apologized. Wished her the best of luck. Told her hoped she would find her answers. 

Evidence at the inquiry

Several documents entered into evidence during her testimony gave Roberta some of the answers she has been seeking for years.  The following documents were identified and portions of the same read into the record: 

01 December 1982: a Serious Occurrence Report was filed by Ian McLean, the Group Home Supervisor regarding an investigation conducted ny CAS into allegations of sexual abuse against several girls at the home. 

02 December 1982: a letter written by Thomas J.  O’Brien, Executive Director of the Children’s Aid Society, to Mr. Robert Nadon (Nadueu ?), the Program Supervisor of the Children’s Aid Society. 

Dear Mr. Nadon,

Further to my telephone conversation of this morning, I am enclosing a copy of the Serious Occurrence Report pertaining to an occurrence in one of our group homes. 

In addition to keeping a copy of this report on file, we are also sending a copy to the group home parents. I am satisfied the action taken thus far has been appropriate and in line with the handling of the serious occurrence.” 

 . . . . While I do not expect any action on the part of the Crown attorney or the police, I have decided to discuss the whole matter with the Crown attorney and have made an appointment with him. 

06 December 1982: a letter from Thomas O’Brien to Mr. Robert Nadon regarding the same Serious Occurrence Report: 

As stated to you in my letter of December 2nd, 1982, Mr. Ian MacLean and I had a meeting with the Crown attorney on Monday, December 6th, 1982 at 3:00 pm. After a brief discussion and perusal of the report, it was felt that no further legal action would be taken. 

05 April 1983: a Serious Occurrence Incident was filed regarding Roberta’s sexual abuse allegations against Brian Lapensee. 

11 April 1983: a report written by Ian MacLean states: 

 Discussed our concerns and plan re closing of Carenick Group Home ...

... and Mr. Robert Nadon, area supervisor, he recommended we again discuss the last events with the Crown attorney or police. 

......The police or Crown attorney will again be consulted on recommendation of Mr. Robert Nadon re Brian Lapensee. 

19 April 1983: a letter from Robert Nadon to Mr. T.J. O’Brien 

Thank you for your letter and report of April 12th, 1983 regarding the closure of the Carenick Group Home.” 

 “Furthermore, I understand that you will be consulting with the Crown attorney in relation to the latest reported incident. 

22 April 1983: a letter from Thomas J. O’Brien to Alan Ain (Assistant Crown) 

Dear Mr. Nadon,  

On Wednesday, April 20th, 1983, I discussed with the Assistant Crown Attorney, Mr. Alain Ain, the matter of the serious occurrence in the Carenick Lapensee group home.  

It was the opinion of the Assistant Crown attorney that there would not be a point in pursuing charges against Brian Lapensee at this time. I am writing this letter to you so that you will know we did have a contact with the Crown attorney and further to this matter, I will be sending to the Assistant Crown attorney a copy of our serious occurrence report.  

Should the Assistant Crown attorney advise us that upon reviewing the typed report, he does feel that more action should be taken, we will keep your office updated. 

07 January 1985: a report by Ian MacLean 

In reference to the serious occurrence reports…

… both reports are on file and have been reviewed by Mr. O'Brien, Director, Mr. Robert Nadon, Program Supervisor, with Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Crown attorney. No charges were laid on Brian.

Impact of her life in foster care

Roberta testified that she has difficulty letting anyone touch her to this day.  She can show affection to her two daughters, but, that’s it. 

At age 19 when she left foster care she was unprepared to be on her own. For example, she had never gone grocery shopping in her life. 

She is unable to work:

If I go out in public, I get home thoroughly exhausted. I can’t go into the bank and then do groceries because I have panic attacks so bad that I can’t do both on the same day. It takes me a day to recover from just going to into a bank. It takes me a day to recover from doing groceries.  

From the anxiety attacks, I can’t take the bus. I can’t be around crowds of people. This, what I am doing right now, there’s no words.