Quebec’s social services minister has launched an “external investigation” following sexual misconduct allegations involving nine educators at a juvenile correctional facility in Montreal in a case the minister said was “beyond disturbing.”
As first reported by La Presse, following reports of an inappropriate relationship between a minor and an educator in mid-August, an investigation into the Cité-des-Prairies Youth Rehabilitation Centre found nine educators who allegedly committed sexual misconduct with at least five minors in their care.
The facility houses young people, primarily minors, involved in the most severe crimes, such as drug dealing, murder, possession of firearms and pimping.
Some of the cases involved allegations of full sexual relations with the minors, including one educator who became pregnant with one of the minors and gave birth.
According to the article La Press, Another educator is suspected of being pregnant with a 15-year-old boy from the rehabilitation centre. A third educator was allegedly caught kissing one of the minors in her care, and a fourth had reportedly been caught in a bathroom in the dark with a teenager as well.
“The revelations in the La Presse article are more than disturbing. I immediately took the necessary measures. An external investigation is currently underway as well as a police investigation to shed light on all the facts,” Carmant Lionel, the QC social services minister said on X.
“We will never tolerate situations of this kind. Abusing vulnerable young people is a criminal act and is subject to prosecution and conviction. Everything will be done to guarantee the protection and safety of the young people under our responsibility.”
A spokesperson from the Montreal police told True North that they were unable to provide further information or even confirm that an investigation was underway.
“For reasons of confidentiality, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) never confirms, with rare exceptions, that an individual or legal entity has filed a complaint or is the subject of a complaint,” the spokesperson said. “The same applies to investigations, so as not to hinder their progress.”
The Cité-des-Prairies Youth Rehabilitation Centre did not respond to True North’s request to comment.