Culture of silence contributed to sex scandal at Montreal youth detention centre: report

A culture of silence contributed to the sex scandal at the Cité-des-Prairies rehabilitation centre in Montreal, according to the investigatory report released Tuesday that claims employees were afraid of reprisals if they reported inappropriate situations.

Four people who were directly or indirectly involved in the affair have been fired. Two managers involved remain suspended with pay.

Those details were shared Tuesday by Assunta Gallo, the director of youth protection at the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, as part of the presentation of the summary report of the administrative investigation into the Cité-des-Prairies rehabilitation centre.

“The main findings of the inquiry revealed gaps in the training and experience of employees at Cité-des-Prairies,” said Gallo.

“While the situation is extremely difficult, it provides us with an opportunity to review our practices and take actions to ensure that such circumstances never happen again.”

‘Intolerable’: Educators at Montreal youth detention centre accused of having sex with minors

At a press briefing in Montreal, the interim director of human resources of the CIUSSS, Valérie Jacob, indicated there could be other dismissals. She indicated several employees have been suspended without specifying an exact number.

The fallout began after an internal investigation was launched by La Presse that revealed cases of sexual abuse and misconduct at the Cité-des-Prairies centre in October.

Montreal police (SPVM) are also conducting a parallel investigation, with criminal charges being a possibility.

Gallo confirmed that at least one full-blown relationship took place between an employee and a young person, resulting in a pregnancy. There have been other situations of sexual abuse and misconduct.

She also mentioned “behaviour contrary to the code of ethics of Cité-des-Prairies and the CIUSSS Centre-Sud such as the use of cell phones for non-professional purposes during working hours, inappropriate clothing or too much close proximity to young people.

“You have to have a professional boundary as an educator with youth. Professional boundaries are expected. You can’t keep in contact with the youth once the youth has finished services and become friends with the youth,” said Gallo.

“It is unacceptable that such circumstances took place in an environment that is supposed to be a safe environment for young people and a healthy work environment for our employees.”

“The main problem we can see between all of those situations is the lack of importance, the omission of what should have been done already,” said Samuel Dussault, director of Regroupement des Organismes Québécois pour les Hommes Agressés Sexuellement (ROQHAS). “And there are already rules and ethic codes that everyone should respect.”

The administrative investigation took place from Oct. 1 to Nov. 14 and around 50 witnesses were met.

The investigation report highlighted a climate of mistrust resulting in a code of silence among employees. Some staff members fear reprisals if they report bad behaviour they witness.

The report makes 40 recommendations to address a number of issues related to the training of educators and to ensure the security of the youth and staff. 

“It has done a good job to point out all of the different aspects to be done. I think after it’s more how it will be followed, how it will be put into action,” said Dussault.

A range of measures were presented in the report to break this code of silence. Gallo said that coming out publicly to encourage people to denounce any problematic situation was part of the strategies to break the code of silence.

The report also highlights that many educational staff in daycare settings are young, inexperienced women. It reads that “there is a loss of expertise, experienced educators are leaving their positions.”

Jason Champagne, director of the youth program, said efforts have been made to improve the overall situation, including the creation of committees and support programs for staff. “These actions were considered disturbing and insufficient by the witnesses met as part of the investigation,” he shared.

“The perceived distance between managers and the field has reinforced a climate of mistrust within the teams, which has harmed the cohesion and efficiency of the services,” said Champagne.

Lionel Carmant, the minister responsible for social services, also reiterated the importance of change within the system.

“Everything must be done to ensure that such events do not happen again. Improving the supervision and training of workers, local management and supervision, the rigor of human resources processes, as well as the tightening of security measures are important recommendations mentioned in the report,” said Carmant.

“Also, I reiterate the importance, for staff in the CRJDAs of Quebec, to demonstrate vigilance. Do not hesitate to disclose any unacceptable situation and seek support when required. We need everyone’s collaboration to have a safety net around vulnerable young people.”

This administrative investigation is independent from an ongoing criminal investigation by Montreal police into these allegations of sexual abuse.

“There are always possibilities that criminal accusations could be held. Obviously, we’re in contact regularly with the police force, with the SPVM, and we have regular meetings with them,” said Gallo. “So they have all the information as up to date as possible as they can have it. And the part where it’s the proof in terms of what they need is information to bring forward criminal accusations is really in their court.”

–Files from CityNews’ Gareth Madoc-Jones added to La Presse Canadienne