Former supervisor on trial for sexual assault at Saskatchewan residential school

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. – A former dormitory supervisor charged with abusing boys at a northern Saskatchewan residential school is representing himself at his trial.

Paul Leroux, who is 72, has pleaded not guilty to indecent assault involving about a dozen former students of Beauval Indian Residential School for seven years during the 1960s.

His trial, which started Tuesday, is being heard by judge alone in Court of Queen’s Bench in North Battleford.

Edward Mihalicz (Mah-hall-its), who was a former teacher at the school form 1963 to 1985, testified he was unaware of any students being molested.

Mihalicz also said physical punishment was rarely used, except the strap in rare cases.

A video was shown in court of what life was like at the residential school during the 1960s — students’ hockey games, outings to the lake, and get-togethers attended by staff.

Leroux was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1998 for abusing 14 boys and young men at Grollier Hall, a residential school in Inuvik run by the Roman Catholic Church.

Those convictions were for gross indecency, indecent assault and attempted buggery between 1967 and 1979.

Leroux worked as an activities supervisor and guidance counsellor at Grollier.

(CJNB, The Canadian Press)