Abuse victims from northern Ont. to receive $13M from Anglican Church, Scouts Canada
WARNING: This story contains information about child sexual abuse.
A class action lawsuit by victims of a former Anglican priest who was also a Scouts Canada leader has been settled for $13.25 million.
Ralph Rowe abused hundreds of mainly Indigenous victims between 1975 and 1987 when he was a priest working in the Anglican Diocese of Keewatin. At the time, the diocese included northwestern Ontario and parts of Manitoba.
Rowe was a former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot who served with the Ontario Provincial Police on Manitoulin Island. He was ordained into the Anglican Church in 1975.
The tragic story was the focus of a 2015 documentary called ‘Suvivors Rowe.’
According to the original statement of claim filed in 2017, Rowe would fly his plane into mostly remote Indigenous communities under the guise of providing “religious services and character-building activities.”
“However, throughout this time, Rowe’s conduct was motivated by a sinister desire to gratify his improper sexual appetite for young boys,” the statement of claim said.
He would groom his victims over time, enabling his abuse of hundreds of mostly aboriginal victims, some as young as five years old.
“Rowe took the plaintiff and class members on camping trips and church outings and hosted children’s activities and sleepovers,” the claim said.
“He also took children for trips in his airplane.”
Rowe was convicted of 10 counts of sexual abuse in 1988. In 1994, he pled guilty to 26 similar charges, involving more than a dozen victims.
More convictions followed in subsequent years and by 2012, he had been found guilty of more than 60 sex crimes involving dozens of young male children. It is believed there were hundreds of victims over decades.
In 2017, the Anglican Church formally apologized to Rowe’s victims, the same year that the class action lawsuit for $110 million was launched.
The $13.25 million settlement was agreed to earlier this summer but still must be approved by the courts.
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
Claimants will receive compensation under agreed criteria, with victims who suffered the most severe abuse with the most lasting consequences receiving the highest compensation.
Full details can be found here.
Victims of sexual abuse committed by Ralph Rowe are asked to contact 1 888 353 6661 or send them an email.
Resources for sexual assault survivors in Canada
If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:
If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911.
A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found at ReeseCommunity.com. Resources in your community can be found by entering your postal code.
Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here.
National Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
24-hour crisis line: 1-416-597-8808
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-833-900-1010
Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366
Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces: 1-844-750-1648
Read about your rights as a victim here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Canadian women among those who allege Harrods boss sexually abused them
CTV News has learned there are multiple Canadian women alleging they were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the late Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed.
PM Justin Trudeau to adjust cabinet roles today, as Pablo Rodriguez quits
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be making adjustments to his cabinet today, CTV News has confirmed. The small shuffle is the result of longtime cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez quitting.
BREAKING Health Canada approves updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
An updated version of Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by Canada's health agency.
Influencer couple denies leaving kids alone on cruise
For most people, dinner on a cruise ship is a time to relax. But when influencer couple Abby and Matt Howard decided to kick back with a dinner à deux, they ended up kicking up a storm.
François Legault wants the Trudeau government to fall
Quebec Premier François Legault is calling on the Bloc Québécois to topple the Trudeau government next Wednesday and trigger a federal election.
Hezbollah leader vows retaliation against Israel for attacks on devices as both sides trade strikes
The leader of Hezbollah vowed to keep up daily strikes on Israel despite this week's mass bombing attack on its communication devices, and said Israelis displaced by the fighting from homes near the Lebanon border would not be able to return until the war in Gaza ends.
Canadian among dozens arrested in Ghost app global cybercrime crackdown
A Canadian suspect was among dozens arrested around the world in a global crackdown on the encrypted communication platform, called Ghost, according to the RCMP.
Quebec woman charged with first-degree murder in death of five-year-old boy
A 29-year-old Quebec woman is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a five-year-old boy southwest of Montreal.
Huge python grabs Thai woman in her kitchen, squeezes her two hours before she can be freed
A 64-year-old woman was preparing to do her evening dishes at her home outside Bangkok when she felt a sharp pain in her thigh and looked down to see a huge python taking hold of her.