Some of the alleged attacks on Des Sources High School in Dollard-des-Ormeaux date back to last fall, two complainants told CTV News, who also said there was a third student who went to police last week to report another recent attack on a school bathroom. CTV does not name the two girls to protect their identities as they are minors. A 14-year-old girl said the student, also a minor, nailed her to a wall in a hallway during lunch one October last year and pulled her pants as he tried to kiss her. “I was very uncomfortable. And I told him many times if he could stop doing other things because I really do not want to do anything,” she said in an interview. “I did not want it to be my first kiss. And he also had a girlfriend and he was just disrespectful to her. And I said ‘No, no. No, not “many times.” She said she reported the incident to the school principal, but said she was told to keep the incident to herself. “He had made it clear not to tell anyone and … if I told anyone, I would be suspended,” he recalls. Her perpetrator was suspended for three days last month “after learning what she did to my friend”, according to the 14-year-old girl. “They did nothing for me.” Her friend, whom CTV was unable to contact, contacted Montreal police last Friday, she said. Asked about allegations of sexual harassment at school, Montreal police confirmed in an email Monday afternoon that they were “investigating incidents that allegedly took place at Des Sources High School, in collaboration with school authorities”. The girl said she was discouraged from her experience of going to school with her complaint, saying officials were more concerned with protecting the school’s reputation than dealing with sexual violence. “And when it comes to sexual assault, rape or anything like that, you’re usually supposed to talk openly because I’m a minor and he ‘s a minor and he’ s still wrong at a young age,” he said. “I just found it shocking because they didn’t really do anything about it.”
“I WAS CONFUSED, I WAS AFRAID”
Another student, who is 12 years old and no longer goes to Des Sources, said that the student called her to a staircase near the back of the school one day, also last October, where he said that he forced her to touch him and to kiss him and “He started to bend over me against my will”. “I told him to stop and he did not stop,” he said. “He was just saying, ‘Just keep going.’ It will not hurt. Just keep going. You will love it””. He added that he “made it very clear” that he did not agree and told him to stop “many times”. “I was shocked, confused and scared,” he said. He also feels that the school is not well equipped to deal with sexual violence. “They would not handle it,” he said. “They will say they will discuss it. They will talk to the parents but they will do nothing.” The Center de services Marguerite-Bourgeoys scolaire did not answer specific questions from CTV last week about how many sexual assault reports are available at Des Sources and whether they are being investigated. Annie Bourassa, a spokeswoman for the service, said she “could not comment on our students’ records” but said she had a “clear protocol” for dealing with sexual violence. “This protocol stipulates that we contact the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ) without delay in order to inform them of the situation and do the same with the Police de la ville de Montréal (SPVM),” Bourassa wrote in written statement. “After their analysis of the situation, we ensure that all necessary measures are taken to protect and support the potential victim. The alleged attacker is automatically expelled from the school for an indefinite period of time and the decision to reinstate him is based on the terms issued by our special associates. “
DEMAND FOR SEX ED RESOURCES HAS FALLEN: EXPERT
However, such protocols become “illegal” if not applied in real-world situations, according to Tanya D’Amours, vice president of the Sexual Health Network in Quebec. “I have not spoken to these people, but it would be very frustrating, and I think a really big missed opportunity and an injustice to those people who came forward and had these stories, because they do not feel that their reason is taken for it. that is, “said D’Amours. D’Amours said it has noticed that the demand for its sexual health resources in schools has declined during the pandemic, which means that some students may not learn enough about things like consent and healthy relationships. – information that can prevent sexual violence position. But when it does happen, there must be a codified policy to ensure that the complainant is taken seriously and that support is also provided to the perpetrator, he added. “I hope more will be done. I feel bad for these students,” D’Amours said. “It’s really bad for them not to deal with these issues in a way that would support them,” he said. “The school will also have to look at its policy to a great extent and how they will go ahead and correct the gaps that exist.”
