Former Legacy Christian Academy student speaks out, school responds to alleged abuse

Another former student of Legacy Christian Academy is speaking out about her experience.

Caitlin Erikson is one of the 18 former students leading the charge to hold those who ran the Saskatoon school accountable for alleged harm and abuse of students.

Erikson said she’s reconnected with a number of former students, and said she learned the director of the school during her time there, who she described as “very abusive,” was fired from his position. What he did next, she said, made her feel like she needed to speak up.

“After learning that this individual had gone and opened another school, that was when I really made the decision to come forward, because that individual should not be around children, period,’ she explained.

The school was directly affiliated with the Mile Two Church and located in the same building. Erikson described the school and church working together as one unit, and said attending the school made her feel isolated at times.

“There was no differentiating between church, school and home life,” she said. “If you had done something outside of school, and someone from the church might have seen you, or heard a rumour about you, you would be dealt with at the school.”

Attending Legacy Christian Academy, which was known as Christian Centre Academy at the time, also influenced who she spent time with, she said.

“We were only allowed to be around the people that attended the church and school,” Erikson said.

Erikson says the former students made complaints to police over a year ago, alleging a wide range of abuse inside the school’s walls.

“A lot of it is excessive corporal punishment,” she stated. “There is sexual abuse, and there is some complaints about the psychological and emotional abuse as well.”

According to Erikson, the police concluded their investigation and sent the file to the Crown in April. So far, no criminal charges have been laid.

Erikson said more former students have reached out to her recently, sharing similar experiences.

“The day the article broke, there were eight students who reached out to me who have not come out forward previously,” she said.

“I think with this information coming out, and there being a first group of people to move forward with criminal complaints, it’s going to open the floodgates, because this insinuation has been around since 1982.”

Erikson said she’s heard stories of abuse from students who attended the school from the ’80s all the way up to 2016.

Legacy Christian Academy and Mile Two Church issued a statement, responding to the allegations.

“We are all heartbroken to learn the stories of some former students about their experiences from over 15 years ago. The current staff and leadership are hearing some of these stories for the first time, and we condemn any acts of abuse that previous leaders committed,” the statement read.

“Our church and school have undergone significant leadership and staff changes in the last seven years. The people that are accused of these actions are no longer here or affiliated with us in any way. We have and will cooperate fully with any officials or authorities that are investigating their actions.”

The school said it has offered “numerous public and private apologies over the last seven years as we have learned of the allegations,” and will continue to offer apologies and assistance.

“We continue to encourage and support any former student who believes they were abused or assaulted to file a report with the police so these matters can be investigated and dealt with properly and legally,” the statement read.

Erikson said she wants to eventually see an investigation completed by the provincial government. The NDP has requested the provincial government freeze the school’s funding.