The

Scandal        

No Closure in Cornwall 

is an article which appeared in the Western-based Report magazine (now Western Standard) and drew the ire of Justice Colin McKinnon during the first sex abuse trial of lawyer and Church canon lawyer Jacques Leduc.  Despite the fact that McKinnon claimed to know nothing of Perry Dunlop he was furious that this article was, as he said,  "adulatory" of the former Cornwall policeman.

 Sylvia’s Site  

(Join me as I blog the Cornwall Public Inquiry) 

Information on priests charged by the Ontario Provincial Police 'Project Truth probe to 1999 

Names of non clergy charged, sued or accused 

Anatomy of a Cover-up:

a detailed chronology of the early years of the scandal, chiefly as it erupted in the press   

The Sex Abuse Charges from Cornwall's Project Truth probe

“The Charges to Date”  until April 1999

Information from The Orator, Vol. 10 No.1,  – age at time charges laid in round brackets.  Outcome of the charges added in square brackets 

(1) Father Charles MacDonald (65): priest of the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall; fifteen counts of indecent assault and two of gross indecency.  

[13 May 2002: granted a stay of proceedings by Justice W. Dan Chilcott] 

(2) Arthur Peachy (77): Roman Catholic, family physician, former coroner, team doctor for the Cornwall Royals hockey team, and acting physician for the Cornwall Police; one count of indecent assault and three counts of gross indecency. 

[Died before standing trial.  Some say suicide.] 

(3) Harvey Latour (69): owner of a popular city breakfast diner; one count of indecent assault. 

[Found ‘not guilty enough’] 

(4) George Lawrence (70): organist and former owner of a music store; one count of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency. 

[October 2001: acquitted by Justice Charbonneau. Charbonneau stated Lawrence’s evidence was “totally confused, inconsistent and full of contradictions.”] 

(5) Roch Landry (70): former butcher; three counts of indecent assault and three counts of gross indecency. 

[2000: Died before standing trial] 

(6) Brother George Edmond (Lionel Carrierre) (78):  former teacher in Alexandria; two counts of indecent assault.

 [2000: deemed unfit to stand trial because of poor health] 

(7) Father Paul Lapierre (70): formerly of Cornwall, now of Westmount, Quebec;  three counts each of indecent assault and gross indecency. 

[2001: Acquitted. Justice Jean Paul Lalonde ruled there was insufficient evidence to find Lapierre guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  Lalonde however stated “I want the complainant to know I believe him.” 

In 2006 Lapierre was found guilty in a Quebec court on charges of sexual abuse against the same victim during a trip to Montreal Quebec.] 

(8) Father Kenneth Martin (68): formerly of Cornwall, now of Pointe Claire Quebec;  two counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency.  

[2001: acquitted by Justice Cusson] 

(9) Jacques Leduc (48):  lawyer, legal counsel for the Diocese, canon lawyer, married;  five counts of sexual assault, six of sexual exploitation, four of procuring the sexual services of someone under age, and one each of sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching.  

[2001: charges stayed by Justice James Chadwick. 

2003: Ordered back to trial by Justice John Laskin.

October 2004: Stay of proceedings granted by Justice Terence Platana] 

(10) Bernard Sauve (59): entrepreneur;  one count each of gross indecency and indecent assault. 

[2001: trial cancelled.  Sauve appeared with a medical doctor – cancellation apparently for medical reasons]

(11) A. Malcolm MacDonald (69): Roman Catholic lawyer, former Crown Attorney and Knight of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem;  two counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency. 

[Died 1999 in Fort Lauderdale Florida before standing trial.  Some say questionable circumstances] 

(12) Jean Luc LeBlanc (54): bus driver, former Transport Canada Training Institute employee; one count of sexual intercourse with a female, one of indecent assault on a female, three counts of sexual touching, two counts of invitation for a sexual purpose, two of gross indecency, one of obtaining sexual services, one of sexual assault on a female and five of sexual assault on a male.     

[2001: Entered a plea of guilty] 

Charged after 1999 through Cornwall's Project Truth probe

(13) 2000: Brian Dufour (59) childcare worker, two counts of indecent assault on a male and two counts of gross indecency: worked at Laurencrest - a facility for troubled youth.  

[Committed suicide before standing trial.] 

(14) Richard Hickerson: Canada Manpower employee:  Friend of Ken Seguin and Nelson Barque. 

 [Committed suicide before standing trial.] 

(15) Nelson Barque, probation officer. 

 [Committed suicide before standing trial.]

Charged in the province of Quebec as a result of Project Truth probe 

Father Paul Lapierre: see above – faced charges in Quebec against the same victim, Claude Marleau. 

[2006: guilty in Montreal, Quebec]

(16) Father Rene Dube, now a priest of the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall – a seminarian at the alleged sexual abuse transpired. 

[Acquitted.  Acquittal seemed to rest largely on defence allegations of mistaken identity.]

       Charged – charges withdrawn  

(17) Father Romeo Major: priest with Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall; one count of indecent assault on a female. 

[Trial was pending. Charges dropped or withdrawn] 

(18) Keith Jodoin: Justice of the Peace and former Director of the United Way; one count of sexual assault of a 21-year-old male in 1985: 

[2000: charges dropped or withdrawn due apparently to insufficient evidence]

Bits & Pieces

1987: Obituary of Bishop Adolphe Proulx in left-wing New Internationalist  

(The 'official' version of Bishop Adolphe Proulx' death is that he was found dead - face down in a few inches of water at his cottage.  The unoffcial version is that the bishop was found with certain private body parts severed and in his mouth.) 

04 November 1993: Chief Claude Shaver steps down as the scandal prepares to erupt  

15 July 1993: Fr. Richard Racine, priest in Kingston diocese, formerly of Cornwall, charged 

3 August 1993: Fr. Richard Racine appears in court  

1995 OCCPS report of investigation into Cornwall Police Services Board  

 25 February 1996:  John Maloney hand-written Letter to the Editor  re allegations against Father Charles MacDonald

1997: Allegations against Fr. Marcial Maciel, founder of Legionaries of Christ, a Roman Catholic order of priests invited into the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall by Bishop Larocque in 1995

1998: James Bateman letter to Bob Kilger (PDF file)

Father Gilles Deslaurier

5 July 1986:  16 Charges against Deslaurier

18 Sept 1986: Gilles Deslaurier ordered to trial

11 November 1986:  Two years probation for Deslaurier and order to report to Abp. Proulx(

(Click on link above &/or scroll down for further info on Father Gilles Deslaurier)

 Chronology of Events

in the Cornwall Cover-Up 

(From The Orator, Vol. 10 No. 1, Jan.-March 1999)

February 1992:  

D.S. tells Church officials he was molested by Father Charles MacDonald [this date seems to be inaccurate.  D.S. definitely told Church officials in December 1992.  I have been unable to verify an earlier reporting] 

09 December 1992:  

D.S. reports his allegations to Cornwall Police. 

28 January 1993:   

D.S. is interviewed by Cornwall Police.   

16 February 1993:  

D.S.’s victim’s statement is turned in to Cornwall Police. 

02 September 1993: 

The gag order brokered by Malcolm MacDonald is signed.  D.S. receives $32,000.    

23 September 1993:  

Constable Perry Dunlop learns of the D.S. allegations. 

25 September 1993:  

Dunlop talks to Richard Abell of the Children’s AID Society.  

30 September 1993:  

Copy of D.S.’s victim’s statement is given to the Children’s Aid Society.    

07 October 1993:  

Police Chief Claude Shaver goes to Papal Nuncio.  

12 October 1993:  

Perry is told he is going to be investigated by his police force.  

16 October 1993:  

Local media report that Malcolm MacDonald was knighted into the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.    

02 November 1993:  

Police Chief Claude Shaver announces his early retirement.  

25 November 1993:  

Ken Seguin, the probation officer accused by D.S. commits suicide.  

06 January 1994:  

D.S.’ victim’s statement is leaked to the media.     

11 January 1994:  

Ottawa Police are called in to investigate Cornwall Police handling of the D.S. allegations.   

15 January 1994:  

Jacques Leduc and Bishop Eugene Larocque deny the monetary settlement contains a gag order. 

24 January 1994:  

Bishop Larocque admits the D.S. payoff contains a gag order.  

February 1994:  

Ontario Provincial Police investigates allegations against Father Charles MacDonald and later that year announces it has no grounds to lay charges against him. 

01 March 1994:  

Children’s Aid Society concludes that Father Charles MacDonald molested D.S. as a child   

14 May 1994:   

Dunlop is charged with discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act.   

23 September 1994: 

A Board of Inquiry is held in Ottawa.   

31 January 1995:  

All charges against Dunlop are stayed.  The Police Complaints Commission appeals the decision. 

07 February 1995:  

Malcolm MacDonald is charged with obstruction of justice. 

12 October 1995:  

Malcolm MacDonald pleads guilty and receives an absolute discharge. 

07 December 1995:  

Divisional Court dismisses the Police Complaints Commission’s appeal with costs and upholds the Board of Inquiry decision to stay all charges against Dunlop. 

11 March 1996: 

Father Charles MacDonald is charged with seven counts of indecent assault against three former altar boys. 

13 November 1996:  

“Richard” (Ron Leroux) signs an affidavit outlining his first-hand account of a pedophile ring. 

08 April 1997:  

Perry Dunlop deposits documents with the Attorney General and the Office of the Solicitor General, Ontario Civilian Commission on Policing Services.      

August 1997:  

 Ontario Provincial Police launch Project Truth.   

27 January 1998:

Father Charles MacDonald is charged with six more counts of indecent assault and two of gross indecency.  

11 June 1998:  

Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall attempts to gag Perry Dunlop and his family. 

22 June 1998:  

Jacques Leduc, former legal counsel for the Archdiocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, is charged with twelve counts of sexual assault. 

09 July 1998:  

Project Truth charges seven men with sexual offences which date back thirty years.  

Superintendent Fougere says Project Truth is scheduled to wrap up in September. 

31 July 1998:  

Perry Dunlop gives Project Truth the missing documents. 

18 September 1998:

Garry Guzzo sends first letter to Ontario Premier Mike Harris. 

05 January 1999:  

A 54-year-old male is charged with 16 counts of sexual assault against males and females between 1986 and 1998. 

23 February 1999:  

Garry Guzzo writes second letter to Ontario Premier Mike Harris. 

11 March 1999: 

Malcolm MacDonald is charged with three counts of sexual assault.  One other man is charged. Jacques Leduc has four more charges added to the previous 12.                                   

Detective Inspector Grassman says he thinks the investigation will wrap up in the summer 

21 March 1999:

Garry Guzzo’s letters to Premier Harris are in the public domain.  

03 April 1999:

Ottawa Sun reports that a couple claim their son was molested by one of the Dunlop’s prime suspects 

 Father Gilles Deslaurier

Charged and Convicted in 1986 

When Bishop Adolphe Proulx was at the helm of the Roman Catholic Alexandria-Cornwall Diocese (1967-1974, then known as the Diocese of Alexandria), a priest by the name of Father Gilles Deslaurier served as his Master of Ceremonies and, for a time, lived in the Bishop’s palace. 

In 1974, when Bishop Proulx was assigned to the neighbouring Archdiocese of Gatineau-Hull (Quebec), he was replaced by Bishop Eugene Larocque, formerly a priest from the Diocese of London, Ontario.   

After Bishop Larocque assumed control of the Diocese, Father Deslaurier helped out with a variety of diocesan activities.  He assisted the Bishop with Religious Vocations for the French sector, served on the Liturgical Commission for the French sector, served on the Pastoral Ministry of Priests, and acted as chaplain in the Catholic Secondary School.  For a number of years he was placed in charge of the diocese’s French Cursillo and R3, a French youth Cursillo. 

 In January 1986, the parents of a young man, Benoit Brisson,  approached Bishop Eugene Larocque alleging that their son had been sexually molested by Father Deslaurier.  When no action was taken, the couple went to the Papal Nuncio, then Angelo Palmas.  Following that visit with the Nuncio, Bishop Larocque carried out an internal investigation, then contacted the couple and promised that Deslaurier would be  kept out of active ministry and relocated to receive therapy in the Gatineau-Hull Diocese (then under the helm of his predecessor Bishop Proulx). 

 Des;aurier resinged on the 13th of February.  One week later he was discovered saying Mass in a Hull parish where he was filling in for the ailing parish priest.   

The Brissons went public and eventually nine charges of indecent assault against five boys transpiring between 1978 and 1984 were laid against Father Deslaurier.  Deslaurier was found guilty and sentenced to two years probation, reporting to a probation officer and Bishop Proulx!   Newspapers of the day reported that Bishop Proulx of the Gatineau-Hull Diocese had volunteered to watch over Deslaurier, an offer which the judge said, “indicates a confidence he has in the future of this person.” 

The media also reported that Cornwall Police Chief Claude Shaver said Bishop Larocque had been less than cooperative during the investigation. 

Father Gilles Deslaurier moved on to St. Adele, Quebec, and then to Vercheres, Quebec.  In 1997 the Ottawa Sun learned that Father Deslaurier was under investigation for new sex allegations in St. Adele.  

 Media Reports

Ottawa Sun
10 Apr, 2000

CORNWALL, Ont. (CP) - Investigators looking into decades of abuse by prominent officials and clergy laid another 19 sex offences against four men Monday. The charges were laid by provincial police heading Project Truth, an ongoing 32-month investigation that has already netted 114 charges.

Rev. Charles MacDonald, 67, of Glen Robertson near Cornwall, faces two counts of indecent assault on a male and two counts of gross indecency. In May 1999, MacDonald was ordered to stand trial on eight sex charges involving young boys. That was in addition to six sex charges laid in January 1998 involving five complainants, and seven sex charges laid two years earlier involving three former altar boys for allegations dating back to the late '60s and early '70s.

Jean Luc LeBlanc, 55, of Newington, northwest of Cornwall, faces 10 sex offences, including one count of buggery, two counts of anal intercourse, two counts of sexual assault on a male and one count of procuring a person for illicit sexual intercourse. LeBlanc, a convicted pedophile who drove a school bus for the Upper Canada District Board in 1998, was hit with 13 sex charges last July and was charged with 28 sex-related charges earlier in 1999.

Brian Bernard Dufour, 59, of Hamilton, was charged Monday with two counts of indecent assault on a male and two counts of gross indecency. Det. Insp. Klancy Grasman said the charges stem from the late '60s when Dufour worked as a child-care worker in Cornwall.

Rev. Romeo Major, 62, of Cornwall, was charged with one count of indecent assault on a female.Dufour, Major and MacDonald were scheduled to appear in Cornwall court April 17. Jean Luc LeBlanc will appear in court in Cornwall June 23.

Grasman said he expects Project Truth to conclude by the end of May. 

Man 70, charged with sex assault

The Ottawa Citizen

25 August 2000

Project Truth officers yesterday wrapped up their long-running investigation with the arrest of a 70-year-old Long Sault man for an alleged sexual assault that dates back 15 years. The charges stem from a complaint that a 21-year-old man had been sexually assaulted in 1985.

Keith Ernest Jodoin, 70, of Sunset Drive, Island 17, Long Sault, is charged with one count of sexual assault. He is scheduled to appear in Cornwall court on Sept. 18. Since its inception in 1997, Project Truth has seen 15 people charged with 115 counts of various sexual crimes. 

Bishop's Attempt To Turn "Mute Dogs" Into Martyrs Is A Cynical Ploy

Editorial

20 October 2000, Seaway News (Cornwall) 

By Bob Roth

Bishop Eugene LaRocque did his community and his church yet another disservice this week when he tried to cloak himself and other priests in the mantle of martyrdom, and turn the church into the "victim" of the child abuse controversy.This is the worst form of spiritual perversion.In a stunning rewriting of history and economics, the bishop positions the church as some poor feeble institution with little power to fight off its persecutors. "We just don't have the organization to do so." he is quoted as saying. "But with the recent establishment of the Catholic Civil Rights League, we may be able to deal with groups that try to back the Church up against the wall."

This is the same poor defenceless church - the richest landlord in Christendom - that has no problem coughing up thousands of dollars on a moment's notice to pay off pedophile priests or cover up allegations.

Recent actions at the diocesan level have demonstrated that the church and its apologists are anything but disorganized. No sooner was the Bill 103 petition under way than the "Catholic Laity Committee" materialized and began circulating a counter-petition (which has apparently mounted to a hill of beans).

According to the Standard-Freeholder, another group of zealots - aided by priests - tried to start an advertising boycott against the daily newspaper because it printed a fact they didn't like. (What's next -re-institution of the "forbidden books" list?)

Then we have the Knights of Columbus, an entire army of people pledged to defend the faith, whose members are circulating a document under the title "The Catholic Laity for Justice" attacking Bill 103

Let me point out that neither I nor the proponents of Bill 103 have ever attacked the Catholic Church on the basis of religious differences. This is not an attack on the church's faith; it is an attack on predator priests and an institution that refuses to take up the sword of Gideon against an evil within its own walls. And, frankly, good Catholics have had enough of it. An attempt to turn this child abuse issue into a religious battle is a sorry, cynical defence by a morally bankrupt hierarchy that has clearly run out of legitimate excuses for its behavior. Attempting to turn child abusers, cover up artists, apologists and silent wonders into victims is the ultimate betrayal of Christian fait - of all denominations.As for the good priests, I am still waiting to hear from them. The "silence of the lamb" is deafening.

I harken back to some excellent words last week in a letter from Carson Chisholm who quoted St. Alphonsus De Liguori on the sin of priestly silence in the face of evil. Isaiah calls such priests "mute dogs, who become partners of evil through their silence. St. Leo adds, "The priest who does not withdraw another from error proves that he is himself involved in it."Well put.Let's hope the bishop and his "mute dogs" withdraw from this shameful strategy of transforming a legal and moral issue into a defence-of-the-faith issue. 

Editorial, Seaway News (Cornwall)

Friday, 10 November 2000

By Bob Roth

Sometimes it is critical to make a dramatic, symbolic, public statement. That  time is here for the voters of Cornwall.

Would you move to a city where the police force dropped an investigation into child abuse after the local Catholic bishop paid out hush money?

Would you move to a city where that bishop uttered incorrect, misleading  information to the public at a news conference?

Would you move to a city where two different police investigations, including an OPP investigation that left "no stone unturned," concluded there were no grounds for the child abuse allegations - only to have such abuse grounds uncovered by a lone, courageous police officer working on his own time and using his own money?

Would you move to a city where the good cop who wouldn't cover up the abuse allegations was taken to court (or hearing) twice by his own police force for blowing the whistle on the cover-up?

Would you move to a community where - thanks only to the persistent efforts of that one police officer - scores of charges related to child abuse were subsequently laid against lawyers, former crown attorneys, priests, businessmen ant other leading members of the community?

Would you move to a community where that one good cop was treated so badly by his city, his church and his employer that he and his family were forced to leave town for peace of mind?

Would you move to a community where the mayor and council voted unanimously NOT to support a petition from 10,000 local residents demanding a public inquiry into this scandalous chain of events?

I don't think so.

That's why the key issue in this municipal campaign is whether or not Cornwall is a fit place in which to bring up a family. And, frankly, given the "leadership" we have today, it certainly is not. It matters little how many ribbons the mayor cuts or how many pools he pledges to build if he won't listen to 10,000 constituents and take a vigorous stand in finding out what happened - and possibly what is STILL happening - to our children.

This is not just an "issue."  It is a fundamental principle that strikes at the very heart of what it means to be a "community." Bricks and mortar (e.g. a pool) do not a community make. A real community is built on the trust that its members will protect and care for one another. This city's institutions and leaders have failed miserably to live up to that fundamental principle. No, they have done worse - they have undermined it. To further sweep this principle under the rug by going to the polls and endorsing such a pitiful betrayal of public trust and leadership is to undermine forever the idea that Cornwall has any "quality of life."

Nothing would make the pedophiles and the cover-up artists more happy than to see the re-election of the sheep we currently have grazing at city hall. The guilty parties know the proposed inquiry could easily die without strong leadership from city hall. When local politicians become so distant and unresponsive that they can toss a 10,000 name petition into the garbage, I say it's time to send a message. If not, who in their right mind would want to live here? 

Bishop wants Project Truth wrap

LaRocque wants OPP to release investigation's long-awaited final report

Standard-Freeholder

08 January 2001

By Sultan Jessa

CornwallBishop Eugene LaRocque wants the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to issue a long-promised final report on Project Truth investigations. "This investigation by the police can't continue forever," he said in an interview on a wide range of topics Sunday. "We have been promised the final report many times."

Project Truth is an investigation into allegations that some prominent people, including priests, sexually assaulted young people.

Bishop LaRocque emphasized the Project Truth investigation has been his big concern since 1992. He pointed out Rev. Charles MacDonald, a priest with the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, was charged eight years ago but has yet to go to trial. "Eight years is too long a time," the bishop said. "He (MacDonald) has not been able to function as a priest since then." LaRocque said it seems there is injustice somewhere. "I'd like to see Operation Truth come to an end so the process of healing can start," he said. "This investigation has left open a real sore."

LaRocque said the OPP should issue the final report it has been promising for a long time. So far police have laid 115 charges against 15 men under Project Truth. 

Bob Kilger sex rap?!Will allegations scuttle MP’s bid for Speaker?

FRANK Magazine

24 January 2001 (p. 4)

There was much smug joy on the Liberal benches election night and Liberal Whip Bobby Kilger, re-elected once again in Stormont-Dundas, was particularly expansive.  “I got a great present tonight. Christmas came early for me,” he burbled to reporters after his hard-fought 2,000-vote victory over CA dweeb Guy Lauzon. 

In addition to another four years of gainful public service and a top-up of the old parliamentary pension, Bob’s son Chad, a forward with the Edmonton Oilers, was soon traded to the Montreal Canadians, leaving him much closer to the ol’ homestead.  Even better, Kilger’s name keeps popping up as the PMO’s preferred candidate for Speaker of the House.

Bob’s nut-cracking performance as Whip leads observers to believe Kilger could be trusted to run a House without any pretensions of independence, reliably giving Crouton a partisan home court advantage. The perktastic post comes complete with car and driver, an extra $52,000 in salary, the official residence at Kingsmere, the lavish House of Commons apartments, plus, plus, plus.   Kilger’s experience as an NHL linesman would lend an air of specious objectivity, but opposition MPs and independent-minded  Liberals would be unlikely to favour someone who so clearly appears to be the PM’s poodle. 

And then there are certain allegations of sexual impropriety, which surfaced ominously during the election campaign. 

An all-candidates meeting in Cornwall was scandalized when local shit disturber Dick Nadeau stepped up to the microphone, demanding to know how Kilger could stand for reelection when criminal charges were pending against him? 

The meeting moderator immediately spluttered that the question was out of order, but Kilger brushed him aside and read from a prepared statement: “I can assure you the allegations pertaining to me contained on the website are untrue. I can further assure you I’ve not been contacted by police with respect to any investigation.” 

The website in question is Nadeau’s www.projecttruth2.com, an online compilation of information on the ongoing story of sexual abuse, pedophilia and coverup in Cornwall involving clergy, lawyers and other prominent members of the community. The brewing scandal has had Nepean-Carleton MPP Gary Guzzo clamoring for a public inquiry for years. So far, some 114 charges have been laid against 15 individuals. 

Kilger, despite representing the area in the House of Commons,  has not been conspicuously vocal about the problem. Nadeau, whose site names many names, has been repeatedly threatened with legal action. Such threats against his web host shut down Nadeau’s original website. 

The allegations date back to 1982, and Kilger’s distinctly unglamorous and short-lived post-hockey career as manager of a St. Hubert’s chicken franchise (valuable private sector experience, shurely?!—ed.) 

The complainant, a 19-year-old employee of the chicken hut at the time of the alleged incident,  made a statement to Cornwall police in August, but ended up having to repeat her allegations to the Ontario Provincial Police.  

Kilger’s brother in law, Sgt. Brian Snyder, is a member of the Cornwall police force, but this seems to be  mere coincidence. Despite the force’s uneven record in investigating sex allegations, the case went to the OPP for jurisdictional reasons, the alleged incident took place outside Cornwall city limits. Similarly, Cornwall Crown Attorney Murray MacDonald is not handling the file, having handed off to regional Crown Jim Stewart. So far, no charges have been laid.Kilger could not be reached for comment. 

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

24 May 2001

By Sultan Jessa

Sexual and physical abuse referrals involving children and adolescents continue to be reported to the Children's Treatment Centre at a rate of eight per month. And since it opened in the summer of 1996, 594 children and adolescents between the ages of four and 18 have received help from the centre.

Program supervisor Dr. Geoff Langford told the fifth annual meeting of the centre Wednesday children treated came from 469 families. He disclosed 42 per cent of referrals come from the Children's Aid Society of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.Langford told the meeting attended by about 175 people at St. Joseph's Villa self-referrals constitute 24 per cent of the total. "This is a good sign because it shows the public knows of the program and feels comfortable contacting the centre directly," he said.  Remainder of the the referrals come from a variety of other agencies.

Ontario's Minister of Community and Social Services John Baird was the guest speaker at the meeting. Earlier, Langford pointed out 2000 was a very busy year for the centre with 116 referrals. "We had 51 referrals in just three months." Langford explained 57 per cent of their referrals are females and the remaining 43 per cent are males. The supervisor said the rate for males is higher than usually reported. "Male sexual abuse is underreported," Langford said. "Our rate of referral for males suggest we might be reaching more of the boys that need help." Langford also noted 64 per cent of the referrals come from Cornwall and the remaining referrals are from outside the city. He said the treatment centre has an active caseload of 75 in treatment at any one time with no waiting list. "Without donors, this program could not exist," Langford said. He said the attitude of love and caring for children which flows from donors, volunteers and staff is part of the energy that heals children. Langford said this also makes the centre such an effective, friendly and welcoming place.

Pierre Guindon, president of the centre, said they continue to provide excellent service thanks to the able and caring staff. "Our fundraising events were all very successful thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and the generosity of our supporters," he said.

Man faces new kiddie porn rap

Fri, September 10, 2004

By LAURA CZEKAJ,

Ottawa Sun

A Cornwall man found not guilty on child pornography charges two years ago is facing a similar charge after a month-long investigation led police to his residence yesterday. James Lewis, 42, was charged with possession of child pornography following an investigation by the OPP child pornography section and electronic crime section and the Cornwall police sexual assault and child abuse branch.

[theinquiry.ca note:  on 3 March 2006 Lewis entered a gulity plea to sex abuse charges.  He was a close friend of Richard Hickerson, a Canada Manpower employee who committed suicide after facing sex abuse charges.  

Sexual abuse lawsuits filed

February 25, 2005

CANADA
Cornwall Seaway Newsby John Divinski

Three separate lawsuits totalling almost $10 million were publicly announced on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2005 by three men who say they were sexually abused in Cornwall when they were younger.

Stuart Gerald Labelle named Cornwall lawyer Jacques Leduc as the plaintiff.

Albert Joseph Lalonde and Robert Renshaw named former priest Charles MacDonald of Glen Robertson as plaintiff and the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall is also named.

Leduc says he will challenge the charges and is considering a counter-suit. Bishop Paul-André Durocher of the local diocese says the matter has been turned over to their legal representatives for future comment. Father Charles MacDonald had no comment on the matter when contacted at his home. 

Former Cornwall Priest Fights Extradition

(March 24, 2005)

 In his fight to remain in Canada, a former Cornwall priest has filed an appeal against an extradition order in the U-S. The Quebec Court of Appeal upheld Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler's decision to extradite Father Paul Desilets last month. Desilets taught at Cornwall's Classical College in the late 1960's. Charges were filed against the 81-year old in January 2002. Eighteen men who were choirboys in Bellingham, Massachusetts accuse the priest of abuse. The alleged incidents happened between 1978 and 1984 when Desilets moved back to Canada to live at a retirement home for clergy in Joliette, Quebec. There's no word on when the appeal will be heard.