Parents, students at Que. high school allege incidents of sexual violence
Some parents and students at Massey-Vanier High School in Cowansville are alleging incidents of sexual violence.
The parents say they're concerned for their children's safety.
"We're here today to denounce the Eastern Townships School Board and Massey-Vanier High School-English, all the staff, from principals down to aides, for not hearing the voices of all the girls making reports of sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape and bullying," said one parent.
"Girls are reporting, nothing is being done other than taking the 'predators,' I like to call the boys that are behaving this way, into a room to talk to the girls that are being harassed," said another parent.
CTV News spoke to one student who didn't want to be on camera but said she's scared to go to school.
"There's been boys and girls who have been sexually harassed at the school (…) it's really not fair that the school is not doing anything about it," said the student.
Eastern Townships School Board President Michael Murray says they, and the police, are listening.
"We take every complaint very, very seriously," he said. "We're also collaborating with the police, who have opened a file and are conducting an investigation."
Quebec provincial police (SQ) would not comment on the investigation.
Ruba Gazal, Quebec Solidaire's education critic, says more needs to be done to protect students.
"It was important for me to be here to support the parents and children who are denouncing an unacceptable situation," she said.
Parents say it's the only school in the area, so sending their kids elsewhere is not an option.
"Nobody is getting heard from the school. We're all dismissed, just like the girls," said a parent.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.