Allegations of historical sexual assaults at N.S. youth detention centre under investigation: RCMP

The Nova Scotia RCMP is investigating allegations of sexual assault at the province’s youth detention facility. Investigators have interviewed more than 70 possible victims.

RCMP say “Operation Headwind” has been investigating the incidents at the Nova Scotia Youth Centre between 1988 and 2017.

The youth centre is located in Waterville, N.S., and opened in 1988. The institution holds both male and female youth serving open or secure custody sentences, along with those in remand, according to the Nova Scotia government’s website.

Police say they began investigating the matter in 2019. “Operation Headwind” has 11 investigators, and some have travelled outside the province to conduct witness interviews so far.

RCMP say the 70 people who have given statements so far are all male, although investigators aren’t ruling out the potential for there to be potential female victims as well.

They believe there may be as many as 200 people affected by the alleged incidents. The RCMP has set up a confidential hotline in the hopes to reaching them. The toll free number is 1-833-314-3475. The hotline is monitored Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and has confidential voicemail. There is also an email address: [e-mail].

“If you, or someone you know, has experienced sexual assault while at Waterville, we want you to know we’re here to support you,” says Const. Shannon Herbert, an investigator with Operation Headwind.

Herbert says the team has been connecting those who have given statements to mental health support assistance through provincial victims services.

The lead investigator on the case, Sgt. Brian Fitzpatrick, says the biggest challenge in the investigation is its sheer magnitude.

“This is the biggest investigation I’ve ever been involved in with my 19 years of service. It’s the sheer size, the amount of information that we need to process, and the amount of witnesses that we have to deploy our members to (in) places all over Canada to complete these interviews,” he says.

The province operates the centre at Waterville, and CTV News has contacted the office of Justice Minister Brad Johns for comment.

The RCMP says government has cooperated with the investigation.

“One thing I want to be very clear on,” adds Insp. Don Moser, assistant support services officer, “this is an independent investigation, and when I say that, I want you to understand this as a backdrop, that we will work with any and all stakeholders.”

“We have been and will continue to work with them when necessary,” he says.

In 2019, a class action lawsuit against the province was launched over allegations of sexual abuse at the centre in Waterville.

The law firm representing the complainants, Valent Legal, wrote in its notice of certification that the class action is “on behalf of all persons who were residents of the Nova Scotia Youth Centre between June 20, 1988 and Dec. 31, 2017.”

The class action names a swim instructor working in the facility during that time as the alleged abuser. The allegations have not been tested in court.

In its notice of defence filed with the N.S. Supreme Court in July 2020, the Crown denies the claims of abuse, and “denies it was negligent, systemically or otherwise.” It also states the province “had in place at all material times management and operations procedures to reasonably prevent alleged sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by persons including the former employee.”

The RCMP would not provide information on potential suspects, stating its investigation is ongoing.

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