Nova Scotia approves $36M settlement for former deaf school students

There were tears and embraces in a Halifax courtroom on Friday as a Supreme Court justice approved a settlement in a class action lawsuit over abuse at two schools for deaf children.

Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Peter Rosinski approved $36 million in compensation for former students of the School for the Deaf in Halifax and the Interprovincial School for the Education of the Deaf in Amherst, which operated between 1913 and 1995.

The lawsuit, filed in 2015, came after former students reported physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the schools. The Attorney General of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority were accused of negligence and failing to protect the students.

Michael Perrier, one of the representative plaintiffs, said the approval brought long-awaited relief. “We've finally gotten our answer. We got the approval. This is what we've been waiting for,” he said.

Richard Martell, another representative plaintiff, said the recognition of the abuse will help former students heal. “It's been an emotional day and I just feel so relieved. Now it's our time to move on,” he said.

The settlement includes $36 million in compensation for class members, $3 million for collective benefits such as education programs and interpretation services, and $2.5 million to cover the costs of administering the settlement.

Perrier said the compensation will help former students who missed out on education and faced lifelong challenges. “We lost a lot through our childhood. Many deaf people have entry-level jobs when they could have achieved so much more,” he said.

Ray Wagner of Wagners Law Firm, which led the lawsuit, called the settlement “monumental” and noted it is likely the largest class action payout in Nova Scotia history. About 900 people are eligible for compensation.

The province and the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority will also issue a public apology at a later date.