Ex-soldier at centre of military sex misconduct case receives promotion

VALCARTIER, Qc – The Canadian army has presented one of the former soldiers who claims to have been sexually assaulted by a superior with a post-release promotion, a decoration and a certificate of service.

The ceremony involving retired corporal Stephanie Raymond took place Tuesday at the Valcartier garrison, north of Quebec City.

The country’s top soldier, Lt.-Gen. Marquis Hainse, elevated her rank to master corporal, a move that’s in response to a grievance she filed within the military system.

The country’s top military commander, Gen. Tom Lawson, signed off on the grievance in December and a press release by National Defence describes the recognition as the “first step in addressing the issues she raised.”

Raymond’s case was featured on the covers of Maclean’s and L’actualite magazines last year in articles that claimed sexual assaults had reached epidemic levels in the military.

She was described in the reports as a model soldier who suddenly became an “administrative burden” when she reported the alleged assault in 2011 to military authorities.

In response to the allegations in the report Lawson convened an outside, independent report by a former Supreme Court of Canada justice, who is now in the process of assembling her findings.