(rdnewsNOW staff)

By Ian Gustafson

2022 Incident

Red Deer Public Schools accused in lawsuit of destroying evidence of alleged sexual assault

Jun 3, 2025 | 2:05 PM

A civil lawsuit has been launched alleging the Red Deer Public School Division destroyed evidence and helped a teen return to their home country of Czechia following an alleged sexual assault in 2022.

The plaintiff, whose name is under a publication ban, is identified as S.S. in the lawsuit, and represented by Donna Purcell QC Law.

The defendant is the Board of Trustees of the Red Deer Public School Division.

According to the Statement of Claim that was filed on May 5, the plaintiff, who is a Red Deer resident, was a student in high school and lived with family who were a participant in the Red Deer Public School International Education Program, overseen by the defendant, Red Deer Public Schools.

The Statement of Claim, obtained by rdnewsNOW, claims two employees of the Red Deer Public School Division arranged for two international exchange students to live at the plaintiff’s family residence and attend the plaintiff’s high school as part of the program. This arrangement began on Aug. 25, 2022.

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The alleged sexual assault, the lawsuit claims, happened on Oct. 18, 2022, when the plaintiff, who was 17-years-old at the time, was not conscious and woke up as she was being assault by one of the international students identified as F.D. in the lawsuit.

According to the Statement of Claim, the next day, S.S. reported the alleged assault to two of the organizers of the program, including a guidance counselor, seeking guidance.

The lawsuit alleges the organizers of the program then attended the plaintiff’s home to collect F.D.’s belongings. During that time they allegedly destroyed the evidence of the assault, including a condom on the floor.

It was then alleged the program organizers facilitated the return of F.D. to Czechia before an RCMP investigation could be done.

rdnewsNOW reached out to the Red Deer Public School Division for comment but they explained that as the matter is before the court, they will not provide a statement at this time.

Meantime, the Red Deer RCMP have confirmed they received a report of sexual assault involving two youth.

“Due to the sensitive nature of the file, as well as privacy legislation and the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, we are unable to release further details,” wrote Cst. Cory Riggs in an emailed statement. “Following a thorough investigation, the matter concluded without charges being laid.”

The civil lawsuit states, the defendant had a non-delegable statutory duty under the Education Act, to assure that reasonable care is taken for the safety of students within its jurisdiction.

It states that the defendant failed, “to take reasonable care in all of the circumstances of the case to see that the plaintiff was reasonably safe while in the presence of the international students assigned to participate in the program.”

According to the Statement of Claim, the defendant also failed to require background checks of international students applying for the program or vetting them with regards to sexual misconduct, and failed to have procedures in place to hold international students involved in misconduct accountable.

The Statement of Claim further suggests the defendant also failed to support the plaintiff once the assault became known and failed to report the incident to proper authorities, among 12 other reasons listed in the lawsuit.

As a result of the alleged assault, the lawsuit states S.S. attempted suicide by overdose and has multiple personal injuries including PTSD, general anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and flashbacks, among others.

The plaintiff is seeking $150,000 for general damages for pain and suffering and $125,000 for special damages including past loss of income and loss of income earning capacity.

The plaintiff is also seeking an additional $9,888.69 for the cost of health care services provided or to be provided including past costs.

None of these allegations have been proven in court and a statement of defence has not been filed.

The plaintiff has requested the trial of this action be held at the courthouse in the city of Red Deer.