“I’m heartbroken to think that this was the experience that shaped these new lives,” Carla Beck said Wednesday. Some former students of Saskatoon Christian Center Academy, now called Legacy Christian Academy, are going even further. They are asking for the school to be closed permanently. “I think it should be closed — 100 percent,” said former student Jillian Kudryk. In a CBC News story published Tuesday, nearly a dozen former students spoke publicly for the first time, sharing stories of abuse that included beatings with large, wooden paddles that left them bruised and limping. Others spoke of isolation, coercion, and traumatic rituals such as exorcisms to “cure” students believed to be possessed by demons. Sean Kotelmach, Coy Nolin, Caitlin Erickson, Cody Nolin and 14 other former students at Saskatoon Christian Center Academy, now called Legacy Christian Academy, allege they suffered exorcisms, violent discipline and other abuse there. (Travis Reddaway/CBC) According to Saskatoon Police Service emails obtained by CBC News, a total of 18 students have filed criminal complaints. After a year-long investigation, police handed the file over to Crown prosecutors in April. It is unclear when a decision will be made on possible charges. School officials have declined multiple interview requests, but sent an email saying things at the school are very different now. They say everyone is welcome and anyone who “feels” they’ve been abused should contact the police. According to the 2020-21 Government of Saskatchewan public accounts, Legacy Christian Center received $736,274 in public funding. The previous year he received $699,587. It relies on tuition and fundraising for a portion of its operating budget, but like other private schools, it has also been supported by taxpayers for the past decade. On Wednesday afternoon, Beck and education critic Matt Love hosted a news conference outside the school and the adjacent Mile Two Church. Former students at Christian Center Academy, now called Legacy Christian Academy, say all government subsidies and tax breaks for the school and the adjacent Mile Two Church must stop. The school received more than $700,000 in public funds in the 2020-21 school year. (Jason Warrick/CBC) They called the allegations “horrifying” and “sickening” and praised the students for their bravery. They called on the ruling Saskatchewan Party and Education Minister Dustin Duncan to freeze provincial school funding and strengthen oversight of private schools. “I am determined to get to the bottom of these allegations,” Beck said. Beck said she is angry that Duncan has known about the allegations and the criminal investigation since at least June, but hasn’t acted. “How can you hear these claims and not have any curiosity to get to the bottom of it?” asked. Students and opposition members are calling on Education Minister Dustin Duncan to freeze state funding for Legacy Christian Academy in light of abuse allegations. An official said he was not available for comment, but no action would be taken until police completed their investigation. (Matt Duguid/CBC) He said a government that has no interest in protecting students “is clearly a government that has lost its way”. Love said Duncan “has not only failed to act, but has actually increased funding to these schools. … He needs to do his job or step aside.” An official said Duncan would not be available for comment. The official sent a written statement via email saying the safety of all students is a top priority. He said no action would be taken at this time. “No decisions on further investigations or funding will be made until after the police investigation has been completed,” the statement said.
