A Saskatoon city councillor is denying his involvement in alleged abuse at a private Christian school.
Coun. Randy Donauer is named in a $25 million class action lawsuit, launched by former students who claim they were abused at Legacy Christian Academy – formerly known as Christian Centre Academy.
The lawsuit alleges that Donauer spanked a 16-year-old student with a wooden paddle.
“I have no knowledge of the physical, psychological, emotional and religious abuse that was allegedly suffered at my hands,” Donauer’s affidavit, filed at Saskatoon’s Court of King’s Bench, says.
Donauer denies threatening abuse to intimidate or coerce students. He also denies developing policy at the school, which is operated by Mile Two Church.
“I have no knowledge of the policies and procedures that I was allegedly instrumental in developing and implementing,” the affidavit reads.
The lawsuit lists former staff, the provincial government, and Mile Two Church as defendants. The allegations have not been tested in court.
Three former staff members – Stephanie Case, Fran Thevenot, and Tracey Johnson — have been cleared from the suit because of “their collaborative engagement,” according to Caitlin Erickson, a lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Aaron Benneweis, the school’s former athletic director and coach pleaded guilty to sexual assault and is serving a a two-year jail sentence.
Three other former teachers, including the school’s principal, are also facing criminal charges.
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The Legacy of Abuse Podcast shares powerful firsthand stories and tracks the ongoing fight for truth, accountability, and justice surrounding institutional abuse at Legacy Christian Academy, Christian Centre Academy, Saskatoon Christian Centre, & Mile Two Church.
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Trial for former private Saskatoon Christian school administrator rescheduled, again
The trial for one of the former administrators charged with assaulting students at a private Christian school in Saskatoon has been adjourned, again.
Ken Schultz is charged with assault with a weapon for allegedly striking students with a wooden paddle at Christian Centre Academy in the early 2000s. He is also charged with sexual assault.
His judge-alone trial was scheduled to run next week in Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench, but […]
Join the class-action lawsuit
Scharfstein LLP are representing the claimants
The Statement of Claim was issued on August 8, 2022. The next step will be collecting information, and certification of the claim as a class action on behalf of all minors who attended Legacy Christian Academy, Christian Centre Academy, Saskatoon Christian Centre, and/or Mile Two Church from 1982 to present.