ATA didn’t report abusive Calgary teacher to police in 2006

The Alberta Teachers’ Association didn’t immediately report a Calgary educator’s abuse of students to police, even though he told the ATA about it more than a decade ago, CityNews has confirmed.

This update comes a day after former John Ware Junior High students came forward to say they were sexually abused by Michael Gregory, who is accused of abusing up to 200 girls over a decade.

CityNews has learned Gregory admitted the abuse to the ATA, but the association never made a formal report to police.

The ATA, however, says the RCMP and the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) were aware of allegations and “elements of the case.”

Police confirm they didn’t receive reports about Gregory until 2020.

Gregory admitted to abusing students in 2006. @citynewscalgary https://t.co/HtJxZYgbTZ

— Stefanie Lasuik (@StefanieLasuik) November 30, 2021

Gregory was formally investigated by the ATA and his license was suspended in 2006.

Exhibits filled in the ATA’s hearing on Gregory’s unprofessional conduct said Gregory force fed a student his belly button hair, head-butted a student, and duct taped a student to a tree.

Despite all of these shocking details, the ATA did not bring the concerns forward to Calgary police.

“The Calgary Police Service had not received any complaints regarding the conduct of Gregory until 2020 when the current investigation was undertaken,” the CPS said in an email to CityNews Tuesday. “Due to the seriousness of the allegations in 2020, the CPS initiated an extensive, in-depth investigation to locate specific victims and work with them to move this investigation forward.”

Related article: Former students sue CBE for failing to investigate abusive teacher

In a statement, the ATA says the nature of the recent allegations were not part of the case it heard in 2006.

“The conduct committee found Mr. Gregory guilty of unprofessional conduct and suspended his membership in the Alberta Teachers’ Association, rendering him unable to teach in a public, separate or francophone school in Alberta,” the statement reads. “Teachers suspended by the Association are not automatically reinstated and must apply to regain the ability to become a member.

“The burden of proof at this stage is on the suspended member to demonstrate their ability and commitment to maintain professional standards.”

The ATA says Gregory was removed and never taught again. It recommended the Ministry of Education suspend his teaching certificate.

“Our records indicate that the RCMP was aware of Mr. Gregory and elements of the case heard by the committee. The CBE was also well aware of the allegations put before the hearing committee,” the statement continues.

“The role of the Association is to receive complaints and assess those complaints relative to standards for teaching. If we were to initiate a complaint in another arena, it could lead to an apprehension of bias and potentially jeopardise the outcomes of our legislative processes.”

Under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, it’s been required since 2003 to report suspected child abuse if you have reasonable grounds to believe a child is in need of intervention.

The ATA says the reports were coming from former students who no longer needed that immediate intervention.

The ATA says it would have given a copy of the hearing report to a registrar at Alberta’s Ministry of Education, in line with their policies at the time. CityNews cannot independently verify how many government officials read it.

Current Education Minister Adriana LaGrange says she can’t speak to the decisions of previous ministers, but she says she would have taken appropriate action.

“While I cannot speak to the decisions of previous Ministers, I want to be clear that if I were the Minister of Education at the time of this case, I would have permanently banned this individual from teaching, and ensured his actions were reported to the police,” said LaGrange.

“Sexual assault and sexual misconduct of any kind is completely unacceptable. It is especially concerning when the matter involves a child and even more so when a teacher or school staff member is involved.”

On Monday, former students announced they were launching a class-action lawsuit against the Calgary Board of Education and Gregory’s estate, seeking damages amounting to $40 million.

The lawsuit says the CBE should have reported allegations sooner and the actions of the board effectively discouraged victims from coming forward.

Gregory died by suicide shortly after he was charged with 17 sexual offences against students earlier this year. CPS has since received reports from 10 additional victims and 35 witnesses, who called them from coast to coast to coast and the United States after seeing media reports.

A police spokesperson said in a statement: “This investigation remains open as Detectives are examining other investigative directions. Further details of the investigation can’t be disclosed at this time.”

None of the allegations against Gregory have been proven in court yet.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include further comment from the ATA.