Ex-principal says he would have fired Ellison, court hears
Susan Lazaruk, The Province
Published: Wednesday, October 18, 2006

An ex-Prince of Wales principal said yesterday he would have fired teacher Tom Ellison if he had known of his sexual activity with students.
But John Chalk, principal from 1982 to '88 at the Vancouver west-side school, told a court he had no direct knowledge of any inappropriate contact between teachers in the experimental Quest program and their teen female students.

Ellison, now 62, has pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of gross indecency, indecent assault or sexual assault in the decade beginning in 1972 against 12 girls under 18. He's admitted what he did was "unprofessional and wrong" and doesn't dispute most details but doesn't admit to any crime.

His defence is expected to challenge the constitutionality of the now-defunct gross-indecency charges.

Chalk said he knew little about the Quest program when he took over as principal in 1982. But in 1985, he said, he began hearing stories of inappropriate sexual activity.

"The rumours came by telephone that these particular parents had daughters who had been sexually touched or sexually dealt with by teachers while they were in the [Quest] program," he said.

But details were vague and the parents would hang up before giving their names, he said.

"I couldn't do anything if I didn't have any information," said Chalk.

Asked what he would have done if he had confirmed the rumours he said: "I would have gone to the superintendent with the view of them being fired and I suspect prosecuted because I believe those [actions] are against the law."

Chalk said student teachers are made aware that they act "in place of the parents," and they are in a unique position of trust.

Chalk told court he was concerned about Quest's academic shortcomings. "In many ways, the program was wanting," he said.

Chalk transferred Ellison to another school in June 1986 and Quest became Trek, with a stronger emphasis on academics.

Earlier, the mother of a complainant who Ellison fondled in the berth of his boat and took nude photos of said she would not have allowed her daughter to go on the school trips if she had known what she knows now.

"This kind of sexual behaviour between teacher and student, whether on trips or during school, is appalling," said Louise Alden.

Court also heard from a former Quest student, now a principal, who began a 10-year relationship with Quest teacher Dean Hull while in Grade 10.

She recalled Ellison telling her to keep the relationship quiet.

slazaruk@png.canwest.com