Alberta launches review after child hit with belt at three Mennonite schools
A supervisor at a Fort Vermilion school was charged with assault with a weapon over the use of physical discipline known as 'the strap.'
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Alberta's government is reviewing a case in which a boy was hit with a machine belt as punishment at a private school in northern Alberta, following assault charges against a school supervisor.
Alberta RCMP charged Cleardale resident Eva Bueckert, 37, with assault with a weapon after investigators determined she used a machine belt to physically discipline students. The alleged incident was reported to police on May 20 after the child's parent reported it; the boy had bruising and red marks across his thigh. Bueckert is scheduled to appear in court August 11.
Investigators found the practice — known as "the strap" — was being used across three Mennonite schools in the area: Blumenort, Wilson Prairie, and Tompkins. Police said the physical discipline was part of the schools' collective constitution, which had been given to and signed by parents.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the review will help determine whether further action is required. "The safety of students is my top priority," he stated.
Authorities seized the machine belt and related documentation during a search of the school. RCMP said no other victims have come forward, but the school community has been informed what constitutes a Criminal Code violation. The allegation against Bueckert has not been tested in court.
What specific charges or regulatory action will the government take against the three schools?
Will the parents who signed consent documents face consequences?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
Who was charged in the Alberta school assault case?
Eva Bueckert, a 37-year-old Cleardale resident and supervisor, was charged with assault with a weapon for using a machine belt to physically discipline students.
When is Bueckert scheduled to appear in court?
Bueckert is scheduled to appear in court on August 11, 2026.
How many Mennonite schools in Alberta were using this physical discipline practice?
Three Mennonite schools in the area — Blumenort, Wilson Prairie, and Tompkins — were using the practice known as 'the strap.'
What did investigators find about the physical discipline practice?
The practice was part of the schools' collective constitution, which had been given to and signed by parents.
