Canadian Military Cadets Institutional Abuse

Can Former Canadian Military Cadets Sue for Past Sexual Abuse?

Many former members of Canada’s military cadet organizations have come forward in recent decades with accusations of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse that occurred while they were taking part in cadet activities at the hands of adult volunteers or staff. Our team of experienced institutional abuse lawyers is legal counsel to numerous survivors of abuse as cadets.

If you are among those who have suffered, you can pursue compensation through the legal system for the harm done to you and we can help you to build the strongest claim possible. Our firm strives to treat all of our clients with respect and understanding.

As a survivor, you may not be aware of all the ways you have been affected. You may also be reluctant to come forward, not wishing to face doubt or turn up unpleasant memories. Our institutional abuse clients have often waited decades before speaking out.

These crimes have drawn widespread media and public attention. However, any discomfort and shock the larger public has endured pales in comparison to the effect on abuse victims. Survivors of these heinous acts have come forward in hopes of regaining a sense of control over their lives. Cadet organizations owe a duty of care to its young members, and when cadets falls short survivors are owed compensation.

We are ready to support and guide you with respect and sensitivity if you were abused and wish to explore your legal options as well.

What Are the Cadet Organizations?

Military cadets are divided into three main branches, similar to the historical armed forces. The Royal Canadian Army Cadets, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, and Royal Canadian Air Cadets (emulating the army, navy, and air force, respectively) each oversee many local chapters around the country. Programs are open to all youths between the ages of 12 and 18.

For more than 100 years, the Canadian armed forces have sought to build connections with civilians through cadet programs for young males, later opening membership to female youths as well. The federal Department of National Defence alongside civilian non-profit leagues for each cadet branch fund the organizations.

In addition to the groups noted above, the Junior Canadian Rangers is the youth wing of the Canadian Rangers, an army reserve unit active in rural and remote parts of the country, particularly the North. The junior rangers’ activities and organization are similar to the cadets. The Navy League of Canada, the civilian league supporting the Sea Cadets, also operates the Navy League Cadets.

The Junior Canadian Rangers are open to youths aged 12 to 18 while the Navy League Cadets are open to children from 9 to 12 years old.

Common Experiences of Survivors

All survivors are individuals. The severity of abuse they suffered and its effects on them are personal and unique. Nevertheless, our clients have frequently shared common experiences and traits about themselves, which you may recognize:

• Emotional challenges, such as feelings of anger, depression, or shame
• Difficulty building or maintaining relationships and issues with trust
• Impacts on mental and physical health
• Challenges with substance use
• Struggles in maintaining stable employment
• Struggles with sleep
• Distrust of authority figures
• Trouble with education or achieving the education they otherwise would have

It is vital to recognize that you are not at fault for any of these struggles, just as you are not to blame for what happened to you.

In addition to providing legal advice, we can help refer you to services and other supports potentially available to sexual abuse and sexual assault victims.

Is This a Class Action?

As noted earlier, we understand that every abuse survivor is unique, as are his or her experiences. Accordingly, we only represent institutional abuse clients on an individual basis. This allows us to focus on your story and your voice to be heard, instead of possibly being lost among a group of plaintiffs.

Our firm asserts that the best way to address institutional sexual abuse claims is individually rather than through a class action. We have found that class-action lawsuits, when successful, tend to result in much smaller settlements once distributed to class members compared to individual victories.

In addition, class actions can interfere with individuals’ access to justice. For example, if a survivor is considered part of a class in a class-action lawsuit and does not opt out in time, then that survivor cannot launch their own claim independently and are forced to be a class member even though he or she may never have known about the opt-out deadline in the first place.

Is It Too Late?

It is not too late for you to seek justice, even if you may have been told that it was not possible or you were not believed in the past. British Columbia law expressly permits victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault as minors to launch civil legal claims no matter how long ago the abuse or assault occurred. There is no statute of limitations.

The provincial government made this change decades ago partly to recognize the challenges victims frequently face in coming forward with such allegations.

It is also your right to report your abuse to police at any point, though there is no requirement to do so if you pursue a civil claim.

We want to assure you that if you decide to speak out, we will listen with a trauma-informed approach. All decisions will rest with you as the client. To avoid traumatizing you again, we will only proceed at a pace you feel safe and comfortable with. Our firm strives to build trust through open communication and honest advice.

What Compensation Will We Seek for Your Abuse?

As your legal representative, we will help you assess the types of damages applicable to your case. We may also ask qualified experts such as economists, psychologists, and doctors to examine you and prepare evidence on your abuse and its impact on you.

Some of the losses you could receive compensation for include (but are not limited to):

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life and dignity
• Rehabilitation costs
• Lost income, both past and future
• Losses related to difficulty forming and maintaining relationships

Our firm only represents clients on a contingency retainer basis, meaning you will never be required to pay us anything unless we successfully earn you compensation. There are no up front fees.

Contact Our Institutional Abuse Lawyers for Advice

Call us today at 1-844-373-8202 or contact us online if you were a victim of abuse as a cadet. We can set up a free initial consultation with one of our institutional sexual abuse lawyers so we can learn about your case in detail and explain your options to proceed. Preszler Injury Lawyers looks forward to serving you.

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