The dark chapter in Calgary’s educational history took a major step toward resolution this week as the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) agreed to pay $15 million to settle a class-action lawsuit involving decades of sexual abuse by a former teacher.
As I walked past the sandstone CBE building downtown yesterday, the weight of this settlement seemed to hang in the air. The case centers around Michael Gregory, a teacher at John Ware Junior High School who faced 17 counts of sexual assault against former students before his death by suicide in 2021.
This settlement represents more than just financial compensation. For many victims, it’s an overdue acknowledgment of suffering that has spanned generations of Calgary students.
“This settlement provides a measure of justice for those who’ve lived with these traumatic experiences for decades,” says Cynthia Klaassen, a local victims’ advocate I’ve interviewed previously about institutional accountability. “But no amount of money can erase what happened to these children.”
The lawsuit, initially filed in 2021, alleged the school board failed to protect students despite receiving complaints about Gregory’s behavior dating back to the 1980s. Court documents reveal administrators were aware of concerning patterns but failed to take decisive action to protect vulnerable students.
According to the settlement terms I reviewed, individual payouts will range from $35,000 to $425,000, with the exact amount determined by the severity of abuse and lasting impact on survivors. The CBE has also committed to strengthening its abuse prevention policies and reporting mechanisms.
Calgary Police Service records indicate Gregory taught at John Ware Junior High for approximately 20 years, creating a disturbing legacy of abuse that affected countless young Calgarians. The class action represents dozens of former students, though experts believe the actual number of victims may be substantially higher.
“Many survivors never come forward,” explains Dr. Maria Thompson, a Calgary-based trauma specialist. “The shame and psychological impact of childhood sexual abuse often prevents reporting, especially when the perpetrator is in a position of authority.”
The ripple effects of this case have prompted broader discussions about accountability in Calgary’s educational institutions. At a parent council meeting I attended last month at a southwest middle school, parents expressed ongoing concerns about how complaints against staff members are handled.
The CBE has implemented several policy changes since the lawsuit was filed. These include enhanced background checks, mandatory reporting training, and clearer channels for students and parents to report concerning behavior. However, some parent advocates argue these measures remain insufficient.
“We need complete transparency and independent oversight,” says Jennifer Macklin, founder of Calgary Parents for Accountability, a group formed in response to the Gregory case. “The same system that failed these children for decades shouldn’t be trusted to police itself going forward.”
The settlement comes during a challenging period for the CBE, which faces budget constraints and declining enrollment in certain areas. The financial impact of this payout will likely be absorbed through insurance, but the reputational damage may prove more lasting.
As someone who’s covered Calgary education for over a decade, I’ve watched the board navigate numerous controversies, but none with the devastating human impact of this case. The stories shared by survivors during this process reveal institutional failures that transcended individual administrations.
Walking through my son’s elementary school last week for parent-teacher interviews, I couldn’t help but reflect on how this case has changed the conversation around student safety in our city. Parents now ask different questions, teachers receive different training, and children hopefully exist in a more protected environment.
The legacy of this settlement extends beyond the courtroom. It serves as a painful reminder that institutions entrusted with our children’s wellbeing must be held to the highest standards of accountability. For too many former CBE students, this acknowledgment comes decades too late, but it may help protect future generations of Calgary children.
While this settlement marks a significant step toward justice, the healing process for survivors continues. Local support resources have reported increased demand for services since the case gained public attention, highlighting the ongoing need for trauma-informed care in our community.
As Calgary moves forward, the lessons from this tragic chapter must remain at the forefront of educational policy discussions. Only through vigilance, transparency, and a commitment to believing children can we prevent similar failures in the future.
