Class-action settlement worth $30M approved for abuse at Vancouver Catholic schools

The B.C. Supreme Court approved a $30-million settlement Wednesday for a class-action lawsuit over historical physical, sexual, and psychological abuse at two Vancouver Catholic schools run by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver.

The settlement covers Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate. Justice Simon Coval said he had "no hesitation" approving the payout, which includes a confidential, trauma-informed claims process designed to spare survivors the hardship of trial.

More than 200 survivors came forward to join the class. The allegations span from 1976 to 2013 at Vancouver College and from 1976 to 1989 at St. Thomas More. Former students described suffering sexual, physical, and mental abuse that resulted in mental health challenges, relationship difficulties, substance abuse, and loss of faith.

The lawsuit alleged that members of the Christian Brothers of Ireland in Canada — some transferred from the Mount Cashel orphanage in St. John's, N.L., which became notorious for abuse in the 1950s to 1970s — were placed at the Vancouver schools. Four of those transferred were eventually criminally convicted when Mount Cashel abuses were exposed in the 1990s, including Edward English and Kevin Short.

The schools released statements expressing "profound concern and sympathy for victims." The Archbishop's office put into evidence a statement expressing "outrage and discouragement from the failure of church leaders to prevent this abuse, covering it up by moving abusers around." Several class members opted out of the settlement to pursue individual lawsuits against the defendants.