Around Town: $30 million settlement, art in church, Pillars of a Healthy Church

Vancouver College is on the west side of Vancouver.

The B.C. Catholic posted this article March 10:

A $30-million settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit involving abuse claims connected to Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate in Burnaby, primarily from the late 1970s and 1980s.

The proposed settlement was agreed to by the plaintiffs and three defendants: Vancouver College Limited, St. Thomas More Collegiate Ltd. and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver.

Under the terms of the agreement, the settlement resolves disputed claims and does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing by the defendants. The agreement also states it must not be interpreted as proof of the allegations in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit stems from a proposed class action filed in B.C. Supreme Court in 2021 alleging negligence and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with claims of physical, sexual and psychological abuse by members and former members of the Christian Brothers.

As previously reported by The B.C. Catholic, the suit alleged that between 1976 and 1983 six men connected to abuse at the Mount Cashel Orphanage in St. John’s, Newfoundland, were transferred to Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate, both operated at the time by the Christian Brothers.

The lead plaintiff, Darren Liptrot, alleges he was sexually abused while attending Vancouver College from 1980 to 1985. On March 8, 2023, the Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled the case could proceed as a class action.

The settlement must still be approved by the court. Former students who may be affected are now being notified and given an opportunity to comment before a judge decides whether the agreement is fair and reasonable.

The Archdiocese of Vancouver said in a statement this week:

The Archdiocese of Vancouver extends its heartfelt sympathy to all survivors of abuse. We hope the increased attention surrounding this case may encourage other survivors to come forward and seek the healing and support they deserve.

Vancouver College said it hopes the proposed settlement represents “an important step forward” and reaffirmed its commitment to a trauma-informed reconciliation process.

The school said it believes in “truth and restorative justice” and supports ensuring that victims of abuse have their experiences heard to facilitate healing and understanding.

St. Thomas More Collegiate is in Burnaby.

St. Thomas More Collegiate likewise said it is committed to “working with – and walking alongside – survivors” and supporting their journey.

The settlement establishes a claims process intended to be “accessible and trauma-informed.” It applies to former students who attended Vancouver College between 1976 and 2013 or St. Thomas More Collegiate between 1976 and 1989 and who say they experienced abuse while at the schools.

Compensation will be distributed through two tiers. Tier 1 offers a simplified claims process with compensation capped at $30,000. Tier 2 allows for a more detailed assessment. Compensation for loss of income and earning capacity is capped at $1 million, while other damages are not capped.

A settlement approval hearing is scheduled for April 30 and May 1 at the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. Members of the public have until April 16, 2026, to submit written comments or objections regarding the settlement terms, proposed honoraria for the representative plaintiffs, or legal fees, which are proposed at up to one-third of the fund.

If the court approves the agreement, the claims process is expected to begin later in 2026 and will be administered by CFM Lawyers LLP, subject to court approval.

Survivors will have one year from the start of the claims process to apply for the main compensation fund. A smaller reserve fund will remain open for an additional 12 months to assist those who miss the primary deadline.

The settlement does not resolve claims against several non-settling defendants, including the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John’s and individuals named in the lawsuit.

Notice of the settlement was posted on the websites of the two schools March 6 (here and here).

Art in churches

I don’t know whether I’ve just been missing it, but there seems to be a new desire to foster art in churches around the city. Here are some examples I’ve come across recently:

• St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church, Langley: Featured Artwork in Lent: 

Beginning [March 1], St. Dunstan’s will feature one of Erica Grimm’s ‘Our Father’ series 4 colour etchings each week in our sanctuary.

The whole series is a meditation on the Lord’s Prayer inspired by the ministry of Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II.

Together they represent a plea for peace between nations, and within human hearts. Each print images the contradictions between the ways of peace and the ways of war.

• Second Sunday in Lent (March 1): Sign of Contradiction juxtaposes the sign of the cross over the sign of the mushroom cloud of nuclear war. Note that the cross strips / dilutes the bomb blast power);
• Third Sunday in Lent (March 8): Paschal Mystery / Daily Bread juxtaposes eucharistic hands breaking bread against a background of war machines;
• Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 15): Forgive Us as We Forgive shows Karol Wojtyla embracing and forgiving Mehmet Ali Agca who had tried to stab him. See also the swords being beaten into plowshares on the horizontal crossbar of the red cross;
• Fifth Sunday in Lent (March 22): Kingdom Power and Glory shows the risen Christ breaking through the confines of the tomb.

From the artist, “My prayer was, and is, that the global collective commons would choose ‘breaking of bread’’ and ‘beating swords into plowshares’ over war.  

They were commissioned in 1983 by the Assiniboia Gallery, presented to Pope John Paul II when he visited Canada, and prints from the edition are all over Canada, in the US and beyond including the Vatican Contemporary Art collection.

• Centre Church, Vancouver: The Gallery / Art Exhibition Launch

You’re invited to join us for our next art exhibition on March 12 at 7 pm,  featuring artists Kaitlyn Rose Leventhal and Joshua Leventhal.

A recent (March 3)event: “Hear from our current artists as they share about their faith and process. We’ll also have time for questions! This is a part of the current Gallery Exhibition, ‘Even In the Wilderness.'”

• West Coast Christian Fellowship, Spring Art Exhibit

West Coast Christian Fellowship hosted an Art Exhibit featuring art from East Village Kids (EVK), West Coast Christian School (WCCS) and West Coast Christian Fellowship (WCCF).

The theme of the exhibit was ‘What does Spring mean to me?’ All sorts of art were welcomed: Finger paints, sketches, collages, sculptures, dioramas, music (live or played on headphones), film, animation and written works (poems, zines, short stories, scripts).

Art was displayed at the church buildings March 8.

• Christian Life Assembly, Langley: Inspired Arts Gallery

Inspired Arts is a creative space at Christian Life Assembly to celebrate God’s artistic gifts among us.

The gallery is His Word and revelation presented as an act of worship to God for our community; to encourage meditation, praise and creative contemplation:

• Call to Artists: The Light of Life, March 5 – May 5;
• Inspired Arts Studio: Reflections of Easter, April 19 (held every 6 – 8 weeks)
• Seasonal Events and Gatherings;
• Inspired Arts Life Group (monthly meetings).

• First Baptist Church, Vancouver: Intergenerational Art Workshop

Please come and join us for Intergenerational Art Workshops on Sundays. We will gather to create art featuring the work of Canadian Artists.

All ages are welcome and no art experience is necessary, we will have fun creating for ourselves together. Please bring your own bag lunch and come ready to create!

• Sunday March 29: Acrylic Pens and Decoupage on wood. Inspired by the Folk Art of Maud Lewis.
• Sunday April 2: Watercolours and acrylics on canvas. Inspired by the work of Robert Bateman – Birds
• Sunday May 24: Mixed media and acrylics on canvas, sunsets and seascapes. Inspired by the work of Susan Coleman / Roy Vickers and Ted Harrison.

• Living Waters Church, Fort Langley, March 22 – April 5: Through the Arts: King of Kings

One of the high moments of the week before Jesus’ death is his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. This is a moment full of tension: Jesus enters the city as the ancient Jewish Kings would have done – He enters the city in a way that reflects the prophecy of the coming Messiah.

And yet, He is not the coming King that Israel expects. He has come to suffer rather than to rule. He has not come to overthrow Rome, He has come to die at the hand of Rome. His suffering and death wins a victory greater than anyone could have imagined.

Our spring community art exhibit will take place in the two weeks prior to Easter, and will end on Easter Sunday. Our invitation for our artists is to consider the theme of Jesus’ authority as the King of Kings, the suffering servant who has become the cornerstone – the King whose reign will never come to an end.

Pillars of a Healthy Church

City to City Canada invites you to Pillars of a Healthy Church conference, taking place next Tuesday evening through Wednesday (March 17 – 18) at Centre Church in the downtown core (right across from the Main Library):

This event is open to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of how to live out a theological vision for the city.

Topics include cultivating a vision for gospel movement, mission, and ministry in Canada, along with grace renewal dynamics, the importance of contextualization, and the essential elements that foster church revitalization and vitality.

Participants will also gain insight into City to City’s revitalization framework and tools, and how they can be applied within their own context.

Leading the gathering:

• Jamie Bester: Director & Lead Consultant of the Revitalise program, City to City Australia
• Andrew Katay: Co-CEO, Director of Coaching, City to City Australia

City to City Canada “equips local leaders to cultivate gospel movements to reach Canadian cities.”

Events are listed below, but there is also an Events page and a Jobs page on the Church for Vancouver site.