Ontario man charged with sexual assault and exploitation
On May 26, the West Parry Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced in an ASL video statement that they arrested and charged a 54-year-old man named Steven Burrows with sexual assault and sexual exploitation based on an incident in 2003 at the Ontario Camp for the Deaf.
The OPP said they began an investigation in February of this year at the request of the victim, who worked at the camp in 2003.
The OPP said Burrows, at the time worked at the camp and also worked at the E.C. Drury School for the Deaf in Ontario. He was arrested on April 20 of this year.
The OPP asked for anyone who may have additional information or if they believe they were also a victim to contact the OPP. There is no statute of limitations for sexual-related offenses and the OPP said they would provide interpreters if necessary.
According to someone familiar with the situation, Burrows is a deaf person and the victim was a student who was underage. They said there may be several more cases out there with other victims.
In Ontario, a sexual exploitation charge means an adult is accused of having sexual activity with someone who is 16 or 17 years old and the suspect is someone who has a position of trust or authority.
I reached out to Burrows on social media for a comment but received no response.
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The Ontario Camp of the Deaf is run by an organization called the Bob Rumball Canadian Centre of Excellence for the Deaf (BRCCED). I reached out to their president Derek Rumball for a comment.
Rumball said he found out about the charges the same way most people did, by a social media post. He said he hasn’t been contacted by any authority or investigator about this. He said he is very confident in the system and that justice will be served. He said parents and caregivers of campers and volunteers can be assured that the safety of every person who comes to camp is the highest priority they have.
I also reached out to the E.C. Drury School for the Deaf for comment. An official with the Provincial and Demonstration Schools Branch (PDSB), which oversees the school, provided this quote.
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“The PDSB takes this issue very seriously and is committed to ensuring that a positive learning environment is provided to students to help them thrive and to positively impact their futures. PDSB will fully cooperate with the OPP investigation if requested. The alleged incidents took place in 2003 at a summer camp that is not operated by PDSB. The person in question is no longer a PDSB employee.” - Jaime Urban
The OPP said Burrows was due to appear in court on June 1. According to online court information, Burrows’s next court appearance is on August 3 where he will be “to be spoken to.”
https://www.facebook.com/OPPNorthEast/videos/6224891070930712