Can I make a claim?
You can make a claim if you were enrolled in one of the two schools during the years listed below, and you say you were abused by a member of the Christian Brothers.
Both of these must be true
1. The school and the years
You were enrolled as a student at:
| School | Years covered |
|---|---|
| Vancouver College | Any time between 1976 and 2013 |
| St. Thomas More Collegiate | Any time between 1976 and 1989 |
You do not need to have finished school there. Any period of enrolment during those years counts.
2. The abuse
You say that you were physically, sexually or psychologically abused by someone who was a member or a former member of the Christian Brothers.
You do not need supporting evidence just to make a claim. You do not need to have reported it to anyone at the time. You do not need to have told anyone before now. However, in some circumstances, a lack of supporting evidence, or weaknesses in that evidence, may affect the assessment of compensation.
If you are not sure
Many people are not sure whether what happened to them counts. If you are unsure, send in a claim anyway, or call us and ask. It costs nothing to ask.
Very important: Even if you had previous communications with CFM Lawyers when they were acting as class counsel, that previous communication did not start a claim or make you eligible for compensation. You must fill out and submit a Claim Form to have your claim considered. If you do not submit a Claim Form, CFM Lawyers will take that as an indication that you do not wish to seek compensation.
If a lay teacher or priest abused you as well
To receive compensation, you must have been abused by a current or former Christian Brother. If you were also abused by a lay teacher or a priest or anyone else at either school, include that in your Claim Form too.
If you were abused by only a lay teacher or a priest and not by a Christian Brother, you are not eligible to file a claim.
If you took part in another case before
You should still submit a Claim Form even if you were part of another legal case or claims process about the same abuse, for example the Newfoundland Archdiocese proceedings or the winding-up of the Christian Brothers.
Tell us about it on the Claim Form. It could affect your eligibility or how much you receive, but you should still submit a Claim Form.
If the person who was abused has died
If you are contacting us about someone who was abused and has died, please call us on 1-800-639-0225 or email us at inquiries@bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca.
Still not sure?
Email us at inquiries@bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca or call us free at 1-800-639-0225.