A $30 million settlement has been proposed to resolve a class-action lawsuit involving former students of two Catholic schools in Metro Vancouver. The agreement aims to address claims against Vancouver College Limited and St. Thomas More in Burnaby, pending approval from the B.C. Supreme Court. If approved, the settlement would provide compensation to former students who allege abuse by a current or former member of the Christian Brothers while attending St. Thomas More between 1976 and 1989 or Vancouver College between 1976 and 2013.
The lawsuit originated from allegations made by former Vancouver College student Darren Liptrot against Edward English, a former teacher accused of abuse at Mount Cashel in Newfoundland. The Christian Brothers, who were associated with the Catholic church in Canada, managed both the schools in B.C. and the orphanage in St. John’s. Despite English’s prior confession to police, a cover-up allowed him and other abusers to teach at the Vancouver schools until the allegations surfaced in 1989.
A $105 million settlement was granted to victims of abuse at Mount Cashel and clerics in Newfoundland in July 2024. Liptrot filed his lawsuit in 2021, which was certified as a class action by the B.C. Supreme Court in March 2023. The proposed settlement, if approved, would prevent class members from pursuing further legal actions related to the abuse against the settled parties.
Both St. Thomas More and Vancouver College have expressed support for the settlement, viewing it as progress towards reconciliation and supporting abuse survivors. The settlement applies to the two schools and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver, while individual defendants like Edward English remain excluded from the settlement.
The settlement covers individuals who attended Vancouver College from 1976 to 2013 and St. Thomas More from 1976 to 1989 and experienced abuse by a Christian Brother. It outlines a two-tier compensation process, with tier-one offering up to $30,000 for less severe cases and tier-two for more impactful abuse experiences. The settlement hearing is scheduled for April 30 and May 1, where the court will review and consider the proposed settlement and legal fees for class counsel.