Calgary Board of Education to Pay $15M in Historic Sex Abuse Settlement
A $15 million settlement agreement between the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and victims of sexual abuse brings partial closure to decades of trauma experienced at the hands of former teacher Michael Gregory. The settlement, approved by Justice Paul Jeffrey of the Court of King’s Bench in Edmonton, acknowledges years of systemic failures that allowed abuse to continue unchecked at John Ware Junior High School.
Court documents reveal Gregory sexually abused at least 15 students between 1989 and 2005. He committed suicide in 2021, just days after being charged with 17 counts of sexual assault and sexual exploitation. The criminal investigation began after several survivors came forward in 2021, breaking decades of silence.
“This settlement represents accountability, not justice,” said Eryn O’Neill, one of the lead plaintiffs who first reported Gregory’s behavior to school administrators in 2006. “No amount of money repairs what happened to us, but the Board’s acknowledgment of institutional failure matters.”
I reviewed more than 200 pages of court documents detailing how Gregory manipulated vulnerable students through a combination of favoritism, intimidation, and exploitation of power dynamics. The settlement covers both direct victims of sexual misconduct and those who experienced psychological harm from witnessing inappropriate behavior or being subjected to Gregory’s hostile classroom environment.
Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides called the situation “profoundly disturbing” in a written statement provided to my inquiry. “Schools must be safe spaces for learning. The ministry is implementing additional mandatory training for administrators on recognizing and reporting suspected abuse.”
The settlement structure provides tiered compensation based on the severity and duration of abuse suffered. According to lawyer Jonathan Denis, representing several victims, individual payouts will range from $35,000 to $425,000. The settlement includes provisions for counseling services and educational supports for survivors.
“What’s particularly troubling is how many red flags were ignored,” said Dr. Janine Williams, a researcher at the University of Calgary specializing in institutional responses to abuse allegations. “Gregory was reprimanded multiple times for boundary violations, yet remained in his position with continued access to students.”
Court testimony revealed at least seven formal complaints were filed against Gregory between 1998 and 2006. The CBE’s internal investigation procedures failed to connect these incidents or escalate concerns appropriately. A former administrator, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Gregory’s reputation for inappropriate behavior was an “open secret” among staff.
The settlement represents one of Canada’s largest payouts for teacher sexual misconduct within a single school district. Similar cases in Toronto and Vancouver resulted in settlements of $9.1 million and $5.5 million respectively, though those cases involved multiple perpetrators.
For survivors like Melissa Davies (pseudonym used at her request), the settlement provides validation after years of being dismissed. “When I reported him in 2001, the vice principal suggested I was misinterpreting his ‘friendly’ behavior,” Davies told me. “That gaslighting was almost as damaging as the abuse itself.”
The settlement includes significant non-monetary provisions. The CBE has agreed to implement enhanced abuse prevention training, create clearer reporting mechanisms for students and staff, and establish an independent oversight committee to evaluate school responses to misconduct allegations.
Legal experts note this case highlights serious gaps in provincial education policy. The Alberta Teachers’ Association, which previously investigated complaints against Gregory but allowed him to continue teaching, has faced criticism for its dual role as both professional regulator and union representative.
“This settlement should trigger provincial reforms,” said Kathleen Mahoney, law professor at the University of Calgary. “The current system of having teachers investigate other teachers creates inherent conflicts of interest that can prioritize professional protection over student safety.”
The CBE issued a formal apology acknowledging its failure to protect students. Their statement reads in part: “We recognize our historical shortcomings in addressing these serious allegations. We are committed to ensuring such failures never happen again.”
Class members have until December 31 to file claims under the settlement agreement. An independent claims administrator will review documentation and determine compensation levels. Funds are expected to be disbursed by mid-2024.
For many survivors, the settlement represents just one step in a longer healing journey. Support groups have formed among former students, creating community among those who once felt isolated in their experiences.
“We’re finally being heard,” said O’Neill. “But the real measure of this settlement will be whether it prevents other children from experiencing what we did.”
