The proprietor of a summer camp situated in Toronto’s west end provided a statement recently, responding to alleged sexual assaults on two young girls, aged six, by a 14-year-old attendee. Described as an “isolated” and “deeply troubling” event at the camp, the incident has sparked concern and shock amongst parents whose children frequent the summer recreation centre. Located in Toronto’s High Park region, the camp has come under scrutiny, as families navigate the challenging aftermath of the incident and grapple with the erosion of their trust in the establishment.
Larry Tobin, associated with the camp known as Jack of Sports, clarified that the accused was a fellow camper and had no formal roles within their organization. Once the camp became aware of these allegations, immediate measures were taken to inform all parents of the Multisport camp about the details and the accused minor’s possible interaction with their children.
Encouraging parents to talk to their children about their camp experiences, Tobin suggested that any out of the ordinary experiences be reported back to Jack of Sports immediately. Families whose children were not part of the multisport theme camp and did not come into contact with the accused were advised to avoid unnecessary alarm. Tobin assured the camp takes incidents of such nature with utmost seriousness and is working in full cooperation with the police investigation.
Toronto police confirmed a 14-year-old boy, enrolled in the camp’s “leader-in-training” program, has been arrested on charges of sexual assault and sexual interference linked to an investigation involving two six-year-old girls. Police say the incident occurred between July 17 and 31, where it is alleged the boy repeatedly sexually assaulted the minors. While the charges remain unproven in court, an ongoing investigation is being handled by the Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre.
Parents are reeling, with one mother confessing that the incident left her nauseated and shattered. The lack of information disseminated by the camp following the incident made the news even more shocking. Many parents are now facing tough conversations with their young children, conversations that arise far too prematurely amidst the shadow of such an event.
Without commenting on specific details of the allegations, Toronto police have referred to a broad spectrum of acts that could constitute sexual assault, extending beyond mere physical contact. Sexual assault in this case refers to the violation of the six-year-old girls’ “sexual integrity.”
Parents are urged to inform the police if they notice any change in their child’s behaviour or disposition, as these could be signs of trauma experienced at the camp. However, mediating sensitive discussions with young children about such incidents should be dealt with by trained investigators at Boost, to maintain the genuineness of the children’s accounts.
Kayla Yama, director of clinical services at Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre, advised parents to look out for signs such as unusual anxiety, regressing behaviour patterns like bed wetting, separation-related fears, and exposure to sexual knowledge, which could hint at the child falling victim to sexual abuse. Parents are encouraged to promote a sense of safety and trust within their homes, enabling the child to confide in them confidently about any uncomfortable experiences.
Toronto police have admitted concern over the possibility of other victims and appeal to anyone with pertinent information to contact them.
