Chronology of the response of Canadian Jesuits to cases of abuse

JESUITS

of Canada

For additional information:

José Sánchez

Director of Communications

CANcommunications@jesuites.org

514-387-2541 x 217

Chronology of the response of Canadian Jesuits to cases of abuse

1993 – Provincial Superior Eric MacLean decides to travel to Nawash Unceded First Nation to present the apologies of the Society of Jesus for abuse perpetrated by George Epoch SJ. He delivers the apology in the presence of the community.

1993 – Appointment of the first delegate for misconduct to receive, investigate and make
recommendations regarding allegations of abuse. At that time, the delegate is a Jesuit.

1994 – Signing of the Reconciliation Agreement with the victims of George Epoch at the Nawash First Nation. A commission composed of the Chief of the Nawash First Nation, a Jesuit representative, and the Honourable Walter McLean (MP), ex-Secretary of State of Canada, is charged with overseeing the fulfilling of the agreement.

1994 – Creation of the Jesuit Information Bureau to receive allegations of misconduct and accompany victims. The director of the bureau is the Jesuit delegate for misconduct. He is joined by a social worker with expertise in accompanying victims of sexual abuse.

1998 – Publication of the first protocols for preventing sexual abuse and responding to allegations of misconduct. These protocols will also be adopted by the French-Canadian Jesuits. The first formation sessions in abuse prevention and healthy community living are conducted for all Jesuits. These sessions continue to this day. The protocols have been reviewed and updated multiple times.

2004 – An independent report on the Indian Residential School at Spanish Ontario, commissioned by the Jesuits and completed by Dr David Shanahan, is published.

May 10, 2004, the Spanish Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement in signed between the Jesuits, the Federal Government and the Survivors, establishing a Dispute Resolution procedure for compensation.

2005 – The Jesuits begin to make use of third-party independent investigators and arbitrators in responding to allegations of abuse.

2007 – Lead by Jesuit Historian Fr. Jacques Monet, the investigation into student deaths at the Spanish Indian Residential School is first undertaken.

2008 – Murray Sinclair, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, invites the Society of Jesus to participate in the truth and reconciliation process.

May 2011 – The historians of the TRC interview the surviving Jesuits who served at the Spanish Indian Residential School.

2012 – The complete records from the Spanish Indian Residential School are scanned at Jesuit expense as part of a pilot project by the TRC.

2013 – The Society of Jesus, in the person of Fr Winston Rye SJ, delivers its formal statement of reconciliation and apology to survivors before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in its session in Montreal. More information can be found here.

2016 – The first non-Jesuit independent delegate for misconduct is appointed to receive, investigate and make recommendations regarding allegations of abuse.

2017 – Private investigator Brian King is retained to investigate and advise on historic allegations involving Jesuit missions.

2019 – Provincial Erik Oland announces that a third-party review and audit of Jesuit files will be conducted, and that a list of Jesuits credibly accused of abuse of minors will be published.

2022 – The Jesuits of Canada undertake to work with the Nisoonag Partnership on their pending inquiry into the Spanish Residential School Cemetery.

2023 – The promised list is published in March.

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