The city of Westmount has reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit that was being launched over allegations that a former director of parks and recreation and hockey coach sexually abused boys over a number of years.
Matthew Bissonnette says he was 12 when John Garland first made sexual advances towards him in 1978, with the sexual abuse continuing for another two years and a half. Bissonnette was seeking authorization for the class action lawsuit last year.
Garland retired in 1987 and passed away in 2012.
The settlement needs court approval. It includes $100,000 per victim for a maximum of 25 victims plus negotiated amounts after that. Victims can make a claim in a confidential process. Bissonette's lawyer André Lespérance said the hearing is scheduled for May 1 and that there are five or six victims who have stepped forward so far.
In a statement, the city said Garland "misused his position of power and trust to abuse sexually some of the children and teenagers in his care."
The city said it conducted a "thorough investigation into the allegations of abuse." The city said the investigation also "allowed it to make sure that the safeguards in place today protect the community from sexual abuse."
The city said it was "profoundly saddened and sorry that these terrible events occurred." A news conference by the city is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Bissonnette, now a film director in Los Angeles, said the settlement makes an important statement.
"The city has done an investigation, they have realized that sexual abuse went on in their community for a number of years and they've done the right thing by acknowledging that," said Bissonnette in a phone interview with CJAD 800 News.
Bissonette said he hopes this helps other victims of sexual abuse and childhood sexual abuse.
"The most important thing you can do is to tell somebody and to reach out to someone," said Bissonette.
"Whether you are a victim now or you have been, people should come forward, they should not remain silent and things do get better."