31 March 2026

St. Lawrence Barristers PC is encouraged by Peel Regional Police’s Special Victims Unit's investigation into alleged child abuse at Robert Land Academy – a private boarding school operating in the Niagara region from 1978 to 2025. 

“This news is long overdue for those who have carried the trauma and shame of these horrific abuses for decades,” says Kasi Boddy-McAuley, a lawyer at St. Lawrence Barristers PC. “No child should have to endure abuse, and no child abuse survivor should have to wait this long to be heard.”

"It honestly feels too little too late," say two former RLA students represented by St. Lawrence Barristers. "We have spent decades trying to forget the horrible abuse that happened to us at RLA. The trauma of that childhood experience has had a profound and negative impact on our lives. As we take the steps toward healing, we are hopeful for some real justice and accountability. We want to make sure no one else goes through what we did.” 

While criminal charges and convictions are a welcome move, fair compensation for survivors is also a vital step to providing accountability, and closure to those who have suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse. In July 2025, RLA filed for bankruptcy, which has stayed all litigation.

• Press Conference Video - “Former Human Rights Chief Launching Defamation Lawsuits – February 6. 2025”

• Media Advisory - Birju Dattani Launches Defamation Lawsuits

• Press Release - Former Student Launches Claim Against Robert Land Academy Arising From Abuse

• CTV National - Niagara police, Robert Land Academy investigation (April 2026, interview with Alexi Wood)

• Global News - “Victims sought in Robert Land Academy abuse probe” (March 2026, interview with Kasi Boddy-McAuley)

• CTV National - “‘Less of a human:’ Former student suing Ontario boarding school for sexual abuse” (February 2025, interview with Alexi Wood)

• CBC - “Former human rights chief launches defamation lawsuit against Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman” (February 2025 )

• Toronto Star - “So you want to be a cop — but you failed the police background check. Do you have the right to know why?” (December 2024)

• CBC - “Actresses accusing Albert Schultz of sexual misconduct had to 'suffer in silence,' lawyer says”(January 2018, Alexi Wood press conference)

• Erin C. Cowling Blog - “Women Leading in Law: Alexi Wood” (December 2017, interview with Alexi Wood)