Minister of Education Scott Kent has issued the following statement as part of a mediated settlement agreement reached in the case of a class action lawsuit. Its language was proposed by Class counsel and agreed to by the departments of Education and Justice:
"Through the Department of Education, the Government of Yukon operates and manages schools in Yukon as described in the Yukon Education Act. Jack Hulland Elementary School, (JHES), is an elementary school in which children are taught from kindergarten through to and including Grade 7.
"Additionally, from 2010 until 2021, the Grove Street Program operated in the JHES building. The Grove Street Program was a shared resource program which was intended to provide a supported learning environment for students with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties in grades four through seven.
"It was the Department's responsibility to supervise and oversee the processes employed at JHES and the Grove Street Program for disciplining students who attended there.
"Holds and restraints are the physical restriction of a student which immobilizes or reduces the student's ability to move his or her torso, arms, legs or head freely.
"Holds and restraints are taught to teachers and staff who work in Yukon schools by the Department. Holds and restraints are intended to be used only as a last resort when all other measures have failed to prevent imminent harm to a student or to someone else. Once the danger of harm has passed, the holds and restraints should end.
"Seclusion is the involuntary confinement of a student alone in a room or area from which the student is physically prevented from leaving.
"Seclusion is not taught by the Department to teachers and staff who work in Yukon schools but is understood to be used only as a last resort when all other measures have failed to prevent imminent harm to a student or to someone else. Once the danger of harm has passed, seclusion should end.
"From about January of 2007 until in or about June of 2022, the teachers and staff at JHES routinely and repeatedly employed holds, restraints and seclusion on students at JHES when there was no risk of the student harming themselves or someone else.
"During that time, holds, restraints and seclusion were used at JHES and in the Grove Street Program to, among other things, discipline students and modify their behaviour. Additionally, during that time, holds, restraints and seclusion were used excessively and for much longer periods of time than was necessary.
"The Department permitted the improper and excessive use of holds, restraints and seclusion on students at JHES and in the Grove Street Program from January of 2007 until June of 2022 by its lack of oversight and supervision of JHES.
"The Government of Yukon acknowledges the ongoing harm imposed on the children and their families through the failure to be honest, transparent and accept responsibility for what occurred at JHES.
"This lack of communication and accountability created barriers to healing and recovery, burdening the children and their families for far too long. The Government of Yukon recognizes the courage and resiliency of all individuals who have worked to bring meaningful change and justice for those affected.
"The Government of Yukon, and specifically the Department of Education, accepts full responsibility and offers a sincere apology to the affected children and their families. The Government of Yukon asks for their forgiveness for having failed to protect those children from the improper use of holds, restraints and seclusion while in the care of the Government of Yukon at Jack Hulland Elementary School."
If you need support, we recognize that this information may be difficult to read. If you or someone you know needs support, the following services are available:
- Hope for Wellness Helpline offers confidential support from experienced and culturally competent counsellors to all Indigenous people across Canada 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They provide support for experiences, challenges, feelings of distress and general wellness. Learn more and chat online at hopeforwellness.ca or phone 1-855-242-3310.
For assistance during regular business hours, you can reach out to these local services by phone or visit their websites to explore more details about how they can help.
- Child, Youth and Family Therapeutics Team provides individual, group and family counselling for school-aged children. They also offer low-barrier health and wellness services for youth aged 12 to 18 through the youth outreach nurse clinic.
Find out how to get counselling and support for families, youth and children from the Child, Youth and Family Therapeutics Team or phone 867-456-3838. - Kids Help Phone is a free, confidential support for youth. They provide support for mental health wellness, youth issues and concerns and accessing care. The help phone is available in multiple languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Chat online, phone 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
