Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
In a Monday news release, CPS said the victim, who is now an adult, came forward in 2023.
She reported multiple instances of sexual assault between 2000 and 2003 when her teacher began an inappropriate relationship with her.
Police believe the assaults started when the victim was 14 years old, as a student at École Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys, and continued for several years.
“It is believed the teacher used his position of trust to befriend the victim and develop an ongoing sexual relationship with her,” CPS said in the release.
“Several of the assaults are believed to have taken place in his vehicle and at his residence.”
École Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys is seen in this photo taken on May 6, 2024. (Teri Fikowski/CTV News)
Police have charged Mario Joseph Denis Arsenault, 54, of Levis, Que., with two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of sexual assault.
He is scheduled to appear in court on June 6.
“It takes immense courage for victims of sexual assault to come forward to police, especially when they experience exploitation by someone whom they trust,” said Staff Sgt. Tom Hanson of the Calgary Police Service sexual assault investigations unit.
“Young people cannot give free and informed consent for any sexual activity with a person in a position of trust and authority over them, regardless of whether they say they agree to it or not.”
In a statement, FrancoSud, Calgary’s Francophone school board, said it is “deeply shocked and saddened” by the allegations.
“This teacher worked at Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys School from 2000 to 2017 and the offences took place from 2000 to 2003,” the statement reads.
“We thank the Calgary Police Service for their dedication and ongoing work to charge and arrest this individual, who is currently residing in Quebec.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus survives vote calling for his ouster
Greg Fergus survived a vote to oust him as House of Commons Speaker on Tuesday, but with close to half of MPs expressing a loss of confidence in him, he faces a precarious path forward in maintaining order in Parliament.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
Teen dies after being hit by train in N.W. Calgary
A teenager has died after being hit by a train in northwest Calgary on Tuesday afternoon.
Black bear kebabs make family sick with parasitic worms
It was supposed to be a celebration, but one family’s unique meal of black bear meat sent several members to the hospital instead.
'It's his vacation too': Jimmy the baby goat joins 2-week road trip across Canada
After Jimmy the baby goat was shunned by his mother, a New Brunswick man took the kid on a two-week road trip across Canada.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there’s a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.