scandals

The Canadian Press - September 1, 2026 Montreal, QC - Former Montreal priest Brian Boucher, who was convicted in 2019 of sexually abusing two boys and sentenced to eight years in prison, is now facing new charges related to possessing and accessing child sexual abuse material. The alleged offences occurred between April 7 and April 9, and his case has been postponed until September 8. Boucher was granted statutory release in 2024 under strict conditions, including avoiding children and his victims. Still, his release conditions were tightened in 2025 after he was reportedly seen near areas where one victim and his family were likely to be. He was formally removed from the priesthood in 2020 following his conviction and an independent inquiry that criticized the Montreal Catholic diocese for its handling of earlier complaints against him.

Bishop Accountability + CBC News (Halifax) - August 27, 2026  Halifax, NS - Dozens of victims of historical sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Nova Scotia are expected to receive compensation in mid-September, nearly four years after a $10-million settlement was approved. More than 65 victims have been approved for payments ranging from about $21,800 to $303,000, but delays occurred because of the large number of claims and lengthy assessments. Some survivors criticized the process and lack of communication, while lawyers and the archdiocese say the settlement process was fair.

CBC News (Newfoundland) - August 28, 2026 Newfoundland and Labrador - Gemma Hickey, an abuse survivor and advocate, is calling for an independent investigation into the Catholic Church’s use of the Southdown Institute to treat priests accused of abuse. Hickey says church records should be made public to reveal what officials knew, how abusive priests were handled, and whether they were allowed to return to ministry.

CBC News (Newfoundland) - August 26, 2026 Newfoundland and Labrador - Newly uncovered letters suggest that in 1970, a Newfoundland bishop knew Father Leonard Joseph Kelly had sexually inappropriate relationships with boys but sent him for treatment instead of reporting him to authorities. Kelly later returned to ministry and was convicted of sexually assaulting two boys in the 1980s. His records from the Southdown Institute are now being sought by an insurance company to determine what the church knew about his behaviour and whether it should cover related abuse claims.

CBC News (Montreal) - August 28, 2026 Montreal, QC - Former Montreal priest Brian Boucher, who is serving an eight-year sentence for sexually abusing two boys, is facing new charges related to alleged possession of child sexual abuse material. He was released under supervision in July 2024 and has a court appearance scheduled for Sept. 1. Boucher was defrocked in 2020 and was acquitted in 2025 of separate charges involving alleged incidents in prison.

CTV News (Montreal) - August 15, 2026 Quebec - The Quebec Superior Court has approved a $31.5-million settlement for people who allege priests and others sexually abused them in positions of authority within the Quebec City Archdiocese. The historic class action covers abuse dating back to 1940, with victims given three months to submit claims. The settlement includes compensation, apologies to accepted claimants, and coverage of administrative costs. The allegations have not been proven in court.

CTV News - August 1, 2026 Vancouver, BC - The B.C. Supreme Court has approved a $30-million settlement for a class-action lawsuit involving historical claims of physical, psychological and sexual abuse at Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate. More than 200 former students joined the lawsuit, which alleged that some abusive Christian Brothers had been transferred from the Mount Cashel orphanage in Newfoundland. The alleged abuse occurred between the 1970s and 2013 and caused lasting emotional, relationship, and substance-abuse problems for many victims. Although most class members supported the settlement, some criticized the defendants for a lack of accountability, while several chose to pursue individual lawsuits instead.

Bishop Accountability - July 7, 2026 Winnipeg, AL - A Winnipeg man in his mid-40s has settled a lawsuit alleging that he was sexually abused by two Catholic priests when he was 10 or 11 years old in 1990–91. The alleged abuse occurred while he was a student at St. Jean Baptiste Elementary School and a member of the local Catholic church. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, involved the Archdiocese of St. Boniface, the Red River Valley School Division and the estate of priest Léo Couture. The other priest, René Touchette, had previously been convicted of sexual offences in the 1990s and died in 2012. The settlement details have not been released, and none of the defendants admitted liability. The case was scheduled for trial in November 2027, but those proceedings will now be cancelled because of the settlement.

Thorold Today - July 24, 2026  Niagara, ON - Niagara Region Right to Life has renamed its national pro-life scholarship after allegations of historical sexual abuse against the late Fr. Ted Colleton, for whom it had been named since 2001. The change follows an investigation launched in Ireland after one survivor reported abuse. While no Canadian victims have come forward publicly, the Spiritans are encouraging others to report any abuse, and survivor advocates have welcomed the decision to remove Colleton’s name.