Marc Latour

Marc Latour alleges he was sexually molested when he was a boy in Grade 3, by Roman Catholic school teacher Gilf Greggain.  He also alleges he was molested by probation officer Ken Seguin .  

Marc Latour

Affidavit for Standing and Funding

Transcripts of Marc's testimony at the Cornwall Public Inquiry

27 March 2007

26 March 2007

 IN THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE

ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OF YOUNG  

PEOPLE IN CORNWALL, ONTARIO 

AND 

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR STANDING AND
FUNDING FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE ABUSE 

AFFIDAVIT OF MARC LATOUR 

I, MARC LATOUR, of the City of Cornwall, in the United County of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, in the Province of Ontario, MAKE OATH AND SAY AS FOLLOWS:  

1.  I am one of the group of victims who was sexually abused (hereinafter referred to as "Victims Group") in the Cornwall area.  

2.  In 1975, at the age of sixteen, I was sexually abused by Ken Seguin, a parole officer with the Department of Corrections. This abuse continued for approximately one and a half years.  

3.  The Victims Group seeks standing at this Inquiry to ensure that the perspective of the Victims Group is brought before the Inquiry. 

 4.  As a victim of sexual abuse, my perspective includes the following:
 
a.   The perpetration of sexual abuse by a person entrusted with my counselling and rehabilitation led to my complete distrust in the system.  

b.  At the age of eighteen I attempted suicide. At that time, if I had received the required intervention by doctors and the police, my life today would be vastly different.  

Impact of the Abuse  As a result of this sexual abuse, I lost my childhood. I struggled to come to terms with what had happened and I turned to drugs and alcohol to help me cope.  

6.  My poor coping mechanisms resulted in my inability to concentrate and led to poor performance in school. This has resulted in my inability to maintain gainful employment.  

7.  Since the abuse and the failure of any form of institutional response, I have lost trust and respect for authority figures and institutions. This has led to difficulties with the law.  

8.  Since the abuse I have struggled with low self-esteem and frequent nightmares.

9.  I have difficulties with social relationships and my relationship with my family has been seriously affected by the abuse. In particular, I have experienced marital problems due to my inability to cope. I am also detrimentally over-protective of my children.  

10.  I suffer from Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, which is known to be an effect of the abuse. My doctor has informed me that I will suffer from this for the rest of my life.  

Failings of the Institutional Response  

11.  I was a troubled child when Ken Seguin was appointed my probation officer. By abusing me, he made my life worse instead of better.  

12.  After my attempted suicide at the age of eighteen, there was no intervention by doctors or the police.  

13.  The Department of Corrections mandate is to rehabilitate. However, instead of helping me, they put me in harm's way by allowing one of their employees, Ken Seguin, to sexually abuse me while under his care and control.  

14.  I believe that further details of my first hand experience as a victim dealing with the Cornwall police and justice system, which is the focus of Part I of this Inquiry, would be beneficial information for the Inquiry. I believe that my experiences and those of other victims must be canvassed by the Inquiry in order for it to fulfill its mandate. 

 15.   My detailed experiences dealing with the police and justice institutions could be obtained by my testimony or the provision of a summary of my experiences. The provision of either would be most effective if counsel were provided to me as it would be to other victims.  

16.  I am currently not receiving any psychological help in dealing with the abuse that I endured at the hands of Ken Seguin.  

17.  I have sought counselling in order to help deal with the abuse. However, I am unable to find the one-on-one counselling that I desperately require.  

18.  I verily believe that I will need counselling for the rest of my life. The Fibromyalgia reminds me everyday of what I went through and makes it difficult for me to go on with my day-to-day life.
 
19.  As a first hand victim of sexual abuse, I verily believe that it is crucial that my perspective be brought before the Inquiry. Therefore, I have a direct interest in the outcome of this Inquiry and, as part of the Victims Group, have a substantial interest in ensuring the objectives of this Inquiry are met.  

20.  I further understand that I have the potential for a civil action or application for criminal injuries compensation and that those legal rights may be impacted by my participation within the Inquiry. Accordingly, I believe that I need access to legal counsel, as do other victims like me, in order to fairly participate without detrimental impact upon my civil and administrative remedies.  

21.  Having personally experienced the depths of the impact of sexual abuse and the related institutional failings, I, like other victims have the greatest motivation to see the system corrected and improved. 

 22.  I strongly believe that there is no greater advocate for systematic improvement of the treatment, handling, and prosecution of sexual abuse cases than the victims themselves.  

23. One of the devastating effects of my sexual abuse has been my inability to maintain gainful employment. I am currently receiving benefits from Ontario Disability Support Program in the monthly amount of $ 940.00. This is my only source of income. Therefore, in order to participate and be adequately represented at the Cornwall Inquiry I require that Ledroit Beckett, as my counsel of choice, receive funding to represent my interests without which I would otherwise be unable to participate in the Inquiry.
 
SWORN BEFORE ME at the City of Cornwall, in the United County of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, this 4 day of November, 2005  A Commissioner, etc                                         Marc Latour

Lisa Diane COLLETTE, a Commissioner, etc.,
United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry,
for the Corporation of the City of Cornwall.
Expires June 9, 2007.