 Important Updates

 

 

Settlement Approval

A Settlement has been reached between the parties in the GCC lawsuit.

 

On November 20, 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the Settlement Agreement and Class Counsel’s fees.

 

The Notice of Settlement Approval was published on January 26, 2024 to advise Class Members about how to file a claim. Please visit the Documents page of this website to view the Notice of Settlement Approval.

 

Deadline to Submit a Claim

The claims deadline was October 22, 2024. Any claim form submitted after October 22, 2024 will be considered late and will not be accepted.

 

Settlement Payments

Mailing of payment to claimants with approved claims began on December 5, 2025. Delivery times will vary according to location due to standard Canada Post schedules. Please allow 2-3 weeks to receive payment.

 

We encourage you to deposit your payment at your earliest convenience. Cheques will become stale-dated six months from issuance and cannot be reissued.

 

For Claimants who are unable to accept Canadian funds, alternative payment arrangements can be made.

Approved claimants living outside Canada or the United States who have not provided alternate payment details should contact the Administrator as soon as possible.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

 

1. What is this class action about?

2. Who are the Class Members?

3. What are the details of the Settlement?

4. The Settlement Agreement has been approved by the Court. What happens now?

5. How will the settlement monies be distributed?

6. What if I want to opt-out of the Settlement?

7. Do I have a lawyer in the case?

8. How will Class Counsel be paid?

9. Where can I get more information on this case?

10. Why am I receiving a Settlement Payment?

11. Should I report my Settlement Payment as taxable income?

12. Can I appeal the amount that was allocated to me?

13. Are any claims capped?

14. What is the value of a Group B point?

15. What happens if there are funds remaining after the first distribution of Settlement Funds?

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1. What is this class action about?

 

The class action lawsuit was commenced in 2008 by and on behalf of former boarding students of GCC, (who boarded/attended between September 1973 and July 1997). It took many years before the lawsuit was determined to be allowed to proceed by way of class action (“certified”), and many more years to make its way through a common issues trial and appeal therefrom.

 

The lawsuit alleged (and the Ontario Superior Court in 2020, and the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2021 have since affirmed) that GCC utilized practices and policies which amounted to child abuse: they created an environment of control, intimidation, and humiliation that fostered and inflicted enduring harms on its students.

 

Following a five week common issues trial in 2019 and appeal in 2021, A Settlement was reached between the parties for the all-inclusive amount of $10,875,000 CAD (paid by the Defendants’ Insurers) to settle the class action in return for releases and a dismissal of the lawsuit.  On November 20, 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the Settlement as fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the Class.  The Court also approved the Class Counsel fees and Class Proceedings Fund levy along with administration fees.

 

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2. Who are the Class Members?

 

If you attended and boarded at GCC between September 1973 and July 1997 (and you are NOT a child or grandchild of Charles Farnsworth and/or Alastair Haig and you have NOT previously validly opted-out) you are a Class Member.

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3.  What are the details of the Settlement?

 

A Settlement was reached between the parties for the all-inclusive amount of $10,875,000 CAD (paid by the Defendants’ Insurers) to settle the class action in return for releases and a dismissal of the lawsuit.  On November 20, 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the Settlement as fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the Class.  The Court also approved the Class Counsel fees and Class Proceedings Fund levy and administration fees.

 

The Settlement is intended to provide closure and support for healing for Class Members. The financial compensation under the Settlement is meant to serve a symbolic function in acknowledging the harms endured by the Class Members. Key elements of the Settlement were that Class Members would not be subjected to an adversarial adjudicative process and the claims program was confidential and document-based.

 

There were two categories of compensation available to Class Members.  Group A Compensation (Common Experience Payments) and Group B Compensation (Psychological and/or Physical Harm and/or Sexual Abuse).   Class Members could apply for compensation under both categories.

 

Payment in any one of these categories was not guaranteed.  Total payments (Group A and B combined) could not exceed $74,000.

 

Class Counsel Fees were also paid out of the Settlement Amount.  The Court approved $3,122,187.50 CAD of the Settlement Amount be allocated to Class Counsel’s legal fees, taxes, and disbursements.  In addition, a 10% levy of the Net Settlement Fund, after deduction of legal fees and expenses was also be paid to the Class Proceedings Fund, which provided financial support to enable the prosecution of the class action lawsuit. Fees for the administration were also approved and paid out of the Settlement Amount.

 

After the deduction of legal fees (including payment to the Class Proceedings Fund) and administration fees, there was approximately $6,427,300 available to compensate Class Members.  More than 500 former students came forward to participate in the Settlement.

 

This is only a summary. A copy of the Settlement Agreement is available here.

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4. The Settlement Agreement has been approved by the Court.  What happens now?

 

The claims deadline was October 22, 2024. Payments were made to Eligible Claimants in early December 2025, pursuant to Determination Letters.  Claims can no longer be submitted.

 

Payments to Approved Claimants were issued by cheque sent via regular mail on December 5, 2025. Delivery times will vary according to location due to standard Canada Post schedules. Please allow 15 business days to receive the cheque.

 

We encourage you to deposit your payment at your earliest convenience. Cheques will become stale-dated six months from issuance and cannot be reissued.

 

For Claimants who are unable to accept Canadian funds, alternative payment arrangements will be made.

 

If your email or mailing address has changed, please contact the Claims Administrator immediately.

 

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5. How will the Settlement monies be distributed?

 

The Insurers, on behalf of the Defendants, paid $10,875,000 CAD to settle the lawsuit.  The Settlement Amount was allocated to pay Eligible Class Member Claims (the “Settlement Fund”), as well as the costs of administering the Settlement, the litigation funding levy, as well as Class Counsel’s legal fees.

 

After the deduction of legal fees (including payment to the Class Proceedings Fund) and administration fees, there was approximately $6,427,300 available to compensate Class Members.  More than 500 former students came forward to participate in the Settlement.

 

The financial compensation under the Settlement was meant to serve a symbolic function in acknowledging the harms endured by the Class Members and provide closure and support for healing.. Key elements of the Settlement included: (i) that Class Members would not be subjected to an adversarial adjudicative process and (ii) the claims program was confidential and document-based.

 

The Claims Program and Distribution Protocol were developed with a view to limiting the chances of causing further trauma to Class Members.  To view a copy of the Claims Program and Distribution Protocol, please click here.

 

There were two categories of compensation available to Class Members.  Group A Compensation (Common Experience Payments) and Group B Compensation (Psychological and/or Physical Harm and/or Sexual Abuse).   Class Members could apply for compensation under both categories.

 

1) Group A – Common Experience Claim

 

All Class Members share a Common Experience in having attended and boarded at GCC during the Class Period (September 1973 and July 1997) and having been subjected to controlling, demeaning, intimidating, and humiliating acts, as well as excessive physical and/or psychological punishment.

 

Payments to Eligible Class Members under this category (“CEP”) were determined based upon the amount of time they attended and boarded at GCC during the Class Period.

 

Less than 1 School Year1   $ 1,500 CAD

1 School Year                     $ 3,000 CAD

1-2 School Years                $ 6,000 CAD

2-4 School Years                $ 12,000 CAD

4+ School Years                 $ 24,000 CAD

1A school year is 10 months, between September and June.

 

Claims for compensation in this category required proof/confirmation of class membership, along with the completion, execution and submission of a Claim Form by the claims deadline.

 

2) Group B – Severe Psychological and/or Physical Harm and/or Sexual Abuse

 

Class Members could  seek additional compensation to the CEP, if they provided objective evidence of severe psychological injury (i.e. mental-health illness/disorder diagnosis and treatment), or physical injury (i.e. surgery and/or ongoing physiotherapy) linked to their experiences at GCC. To qualify for additional compensation related to severe psychological injury or physical injury, claimants must have provided a sworn/solemnly affirmed Impact Statement and medical records, in addition to the completion and execution of the Claim Form.

 

Class Members subjected to incidences of sexual abuse could also submit claims for additional compensation. To qualify for additional compensation related to sexual abuse, claimants must have provided a sworn/solemnly affirmed Impact Statement  setting out the nature of the incident(s) alleged to have been experienced by the claimant while at GCC during the Class Period (being September 1973 to July 1997), along with the details relating to the time period, specific date(s) of the incident(s), location, individuals involved, witnesses, if any, and reports made, if any (and to whom those reports where made).

 

Payments under this category were determined based on a Points System, with Points being allocated based on supporting documentation evidencing a Compensable Psychological or Physical harm (i.e. medical records and impact statement) or, in the case of sexual abuse, based on an impact statement, all in addition to a Claim Form.

Group B payments were  capped at $50,000.

 

Payment in any one of these categories was not guaranteed.  Total payments (Group A and B combined) could not exceed $74,000.

 

 

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6. What if I want to opt-out of the Settlement?

 

The Action was allowed to proceed by way of class action (“Certified”) in February 2014 and Class Members were provided an opportunity to opt-out of the lawsuit by December 28, 2014.  Whether or not you chose to participate in the Settlement and make a claim for compensation, you are bound by the Settlement and will not be able to bring an independent lawsuit against GCC unless you opted out in 2014.

 

The deadline to opt-out has expired.

 

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7. Do I have a lawyer in the case?

 

All Class Members were represented by Class Counsel (see below) through the Certification, Settlement and Settlement-approval stages of this lawsuit.

 

You did not need a lawyer to make a claim in the Settlement.  If you chose to retain a lawyer for assistance in making a claim, there may be a cost to you for same.

 

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8. How will Class Counsel be paid?

 

The Court approved $3,122,187.50 CAD of the Settlement Amount be paid to Class Counsel for their legal fees, taxes, and disbursements.  A 10% levy of the Net Settlement Fund, after deduction of legal fees and expenses was also paid to the Class Proceedings Fund, which provided financial support to enable the prosecution of the class action lawsuit.

 

If you chose to retain a lawyer to assist you in making a claim in the settlement, there may be a cost to you for same.

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9. Where can I get more information on this case?

 

For more information about the Settlement, you may contact the Claims Administrator or Settlement Class Counsel at the information below or consult the executed Settlement Agreement available here.

 

Claims Administrator

 

Epiq Class Action Services Canada Inc.

Attention: GCC Settlement

P.O. Box 507 STN B

Ottawa ON K1P 5P6

Email: info@GCCSettlement.ca

Telephone: 1-877-786-0546

Fax: 1-866-262-0816

 

Settlement Class Counsel

 

McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP

Email: gcc@mckenzielake.com

Telephone: 1-800-261-4844

Website: https://www.mckenzielake.com/the-grenville-christian-college-class-proceeding/

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10. Why am I receiving a Settlement Payment?

 

You received a payment because you are a Class Member with an Approved Claim under the Settlement Agreement.

 

The financial compensation under the Settlement is meant to serve a symbolic function in acknowledging the harms endured by the Class Members and provide closure and support for healing.

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11. Should I report my Settlement Payment as taxable income?

 

We cannot advise about tax reporting obligations for award recipients, nor can we provide individual tax advice. The tax treatment of the recipient’s payment is their responsibility and may require consultation with a tax advisor to determine the tax consequences, if any.

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12. Can I appeal the amount that was allocated to me?

 

The period for Claimants to request reconsideration of their claim has expired and no further requests for reconsideration will be accepted.  Please be assured that your claim was assessed in accordance with the Distribution Protocol which was developed with a view to providing restorative justice to Class Members.  The financial compensation under the Settlement is meant to serve a symbolic function in acknowledging the harms endured by the Class Members and provide closure and support for healing.

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13. Are any claims capped?

 

The claims process was designed with a view to providing restorative justice to Class Members by distributing the Settlement Funds equitably among eligible claimants. All claims were assessed and capped, if applicable, in accordance with the Distribution Protocol, which was approved by the Court and sets out the criteria and limits for compensation. The financial compensation under the Settlement is meant to serve a symbolic function in acknowledging the harms endured by the Class Members and provide closure and support for healing.

 

Under the Distribution Protocol, claimants could not be awarded more than $50,000 for a Group B claim or more than $74,000 in total compensation (including the Common Experience Payment).

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14. What is the value of a Group B point?

 

To maintain the confidentiality of the claims process and protect the privacy of all claimants, we are not able to disclose the dollar value per point. All compensation was determined in accordance with the Court-approved Settlement Agreement and Distribution Protocol.

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15. What happens if there are funds remaining after the first distribution of Settlement Funds?

 

If, after six months from the completion of the distribution of the Settlement Funds to all Eligible Claimants there remains any amount, or there are cheques that have become stale dated without being cashed, then those funds will be paid to all Group B Eligible Claimants on a pro-rata basis.

 

For this reason, it’s important that you keep us updated if your contact information changes.