Cornwall Public Inquiry

(As found in Wikipedia under “Cornwall, Ontario” (01 December 2007))

In February 2006, Comm. Normand Glaude began hearing evidence at the Cornwall Public Inquiry. The commission is examining the response of public institutions to allegations of historic abuse of children in the area over the past several decades. To date, the inquiry has heard from dozens of witnesses including many victims and alleged victims of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Some of the institutions being examined include the Cornwall Community Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Children's Aid Society and the Alexandria-Cornwall Roman Catholic Diocese. Glaude has granted standing to more than a dozen parties, including institutions and individuals attached to the issues of abuse. At the end of the inquiry, which is expected to run at least through the end of 2008, Glaude will write a report about what he believes took place in Cornwall over the past 50 years and how institutions can better respond to abuse allegations in the future. The inquiry has a website where visitors can view transcripts of daily proceedings. Hearings are also broadcast in real time via the web. The inquiry's website address is http://www.cornwallinquiry.ca