{"settlement":{"id":"vancouver-college-st-thomas-more-abuse-2026","slug":"vancouver-college-st-thomas-more-abuse-2026","title":"Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate Abuse Class Action","category":"Institutional Abuse","status":"Claims open","tags":{"industry":["Religious institution","Academic institution"],"geographic":["British Columbia"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Self-attestation only","Medical records required","Other documentation"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Was a student","Experienced abuse or harm"]},"classDefinition":"Class Members are people who were enrolled at Vancouver College between 1976 and 2013, or at St. Thomas More Collegiate between 1976 and 1989, and who claim to have experienced physical, sexual, and/or psychological abuse by a current or former member of the Christian Brothers.","plainLanguageSummary":"If you were a student at Vancouver College between 1976 and 2013 or at St. Thomas More Collegiate between 1976 and 1989 and experienced physical, sexual, or psychological abuse by a current or former Christian Brother, you may be eligible for compensation from a $30 million settlement fund based on an individual assessment of your claim. You do not need to live in British Columbia to file a claim. Eligibility is based on meeting the class definition, not on where you live today.","eligibilityCriteria":["You were enrolled at Vancouver College between 1976 and 2013, or at St. Thomas More Collegiate between 1976 and 1989.","You claim to have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological abuse by a current or former member of the Christian Brothers."],"recoveryRange":"Individually assessed, $30,000 maximum under Tier 1; no set limit under Tier 2 except a $1,000,000 cap on loss of income and earning capacity","filingInstructions":"Get the Class Member Claim Form online at https://www.bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca/how-to-claim, or call 1-800-639-0225 if you do not have internet access or a printer.\nFill out every section of the form that applies to you, providing as much detail as you can, and mark sections that do not apply with N/A.\nAttach any supporting documents you have, such as report cards or transcripts verifying your attendance at the school.\nSign the declaration at the end of the form confirming your answers are true and complete.\nSubmit the form by email to claims@bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca, by mail to c/o BC Christian Brothers Claims Process, CFM Lawyers LLP, 400-856 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W5, or online at https://www.bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca, no later than September 13, 2027.\nIf you miss the deadline, you can still submit a late claim to a smaller reserve fund until September 11, 2028.","caseBackground":"In February 2021, a class action was started in British Columbia over claims that students at Vancouver College (1976 to 2013) and St. Thomas More Collegiate (1976 to 1989) were physically, sexually, or psychologically abused by current or former members of the Christian Brothers. The lawsuit claims the schools and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver failed to protect students from this abuse and are responsible for it.\n\nA settlement was reached with Vancouver College Ltd., St. Thomas More Collegiate Ltd., and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver, who agreed to pay a total of CAD $30 million. The court approved the settlement on July 30, 2026. The lawsuit continues against the remaining defendants, including four alleged abusers and their superior.","administratorName":"CFM Lawyers LLP","administratorContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-800-639-0225"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"inquiries@bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca"}],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":"","agentContacts":[],"agentClaimFormHelp":false,"classCounselName":"CFM Lawyers LLP","classCounselContacts":[{"type":"email","label":"","value":"inquiries@bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-800-639-0225"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"c/o BC Christian Brothers Claims Process, CFM Lawyers LLP, 400-856 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W5"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca"}],"classCounselFirms":[{"name":"CFM Lawyers LLP","region":"","contacts":[{"type":"email","label":"","value":"inquiries@bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-800-639-0225"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"c/o BC Christian Brothers Claims Process, CFM Lawyers LLP, 400-856 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W5"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca"}]}],"submissionMethods":[{"type":"email","label":"","value":"claims@bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"c/o BC Christian Brothers Claims Process, CFM Lawyers LLP, 400-856 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W5"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.bcchristianbrothersclaims.ca"}],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/117e206cb3a0f0fb7cc7a2e3-Notice-of-Settlement-Approval-Long-Form.pdf","title":"Notice to Class Members"},{"url":"/uploads/0355fe6d41fee3d12713f7fa-Claim-Form.pdf","title":"Claim Form"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"","longFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/117e206cb3a0f0fb7cc7a2e3-Notice-of-Settlement-Approval-Long-Form.pdf","settlementAgreementUrl":"/uploads/7878d55dbe107d87cafa7b45-FULLY-EXECUTED-Settlement-Agreement-Execution-Copy-04-Feb-2026-01015769xB33C8.pdf","claimFormDocumentUrl":"/uploads/0355fe6d41fee3d12713f7fa-Claim-Form.pdf","claimForms":[{"id":"ab054ab1d35d","url":"/uploads/0355fe6d41fee3d12713f7fa-Claim-Form.pdf","name":"Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate Class Action Settlement Claim Form","language":"en","description":""}],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"claim-form","claimFormsUnavailable":false,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":"","claimFormGuides":[],"additionalDocuments":[],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"The deadline to opt out of this class action was November 28, 2024 and has passed. The court allowed class members to apply for special permission to opt out late, but any such application had to be filed and served on all parties by April 9, 2026 and heard together with the settlement approval hearing.","objectionFormUrl":"","objectionInstructions":"Class members could object to or comment on the settlement, the claims process, the proposed legal fees, or the honoraria in writing by delivering a statement to Class Counsel by mail, courier, or email, or in person at the approval hearing after giving written notice of their intention to appear. Comments, objections, or notices of intention to appear had to be received by Class Counsel by April 16, 2026 at christianbrothersclassaction@cfmlawyers.ca or CFM Lawyers LLP, 400 - 856 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W2. That deadline has passed.","faqs":[{"answer":"Each claim is assessed individually based on the harm you experienced. Tier 1 is a simplified process with a $30,000 maximum. Tier 2 has no set limit on total compensation, but compensation for loss of income and earning capacity is capped at $1,000,000. If the total value of all assessed claims exceeds the available funds, payments will be reduced proportionately.","question":"How much compensation can I receive?"},{"answer":"Claims for the Primary Fund must be submitted by 11:59 pm Pacific Time on September 13, 2027. Claim forms sent by mail must be postmarked by that date.","question":"What is the deadline to file a claim?"},{"answer":"Late claims received by September 11, 2028 may still receive compensation from a smaller reserve Secondary Fund. Claims filed after September 11, 2028 may not be eligible for compensation.","question":"What happens if I miss the deadline?"},{"answer":"For Tier 1, you only need to complete the Claim Form and sign its declaration; if you have records verifying your school attendance, you are asked to attach them if available. For Tier 2, you will be interviewed and may need to provide relevant documents such as medical, employment, or tax records, or sign authorizations letting the Claims Administrator obtain them.","question":"Do I need to provide documents to support my claim?"},{"answer":"After the September 13, 2027 Primary Fund deadline passes and claims are assessed, the Claims Administrator will seek court approval to distribute the Primary Fund. There may also be earlier partial distributions depending on the number and severity of claims received.","question":"When will payments be made?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"enrolled-at-school","text":"Were you enrolled at Vancouver College between 1976 and 2013, or at St. Thomas More Collegiate between 1976 and 1989?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"experienced-abuse","text":"Did you experience physical, sexual, or psychological abuse by a current or former member of the Christian Brothers while a student there?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"The Christian Brothers are members of the Christian Brothers of Ireland in Canada who worked at these schools.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true}],"uncertainMessage":"Some of your answers were Not sure, so we could not confidently determine your eligibility.","qualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement.","nonQualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you do not appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement."},"claimCategories":[{"id":"tier-1","name":"Tier 1 (simplified process)","description":"For Class Members whose abuse had less severe or short-term effects on their life. You only need to complete the Claim Form and sign the sworn declaration; no formal interview is required.","recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Self-attestation only"],"recoveryRange":"$30,000 maximum","eligibilityChecker":null,"eligibilityCriteria":["You experienced physical, psychological, or sexual abuse that had less severe or short-term effects on your life."]},{"id":"tier-2","name":"Tier 2 (more rigorous process)","description":"For Class Members whose abuse had moderate to severe effects on their life. In addition to the Claim Form, this process requires an interview with the Claims Administrator and more evidence, such as relevant medical, employment, or tax records in your possession, or authorizations allowing the Administrator to obtain them, and names of witnesses.","recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Other documentation"],"recoveryRange":"No set limit on total compensation; $1,000,000 maximum for loss of income and loss of earning capacity","eligibilityChecker":null,"eligibilityCriteria":["You experienced physical, psychological, or sexual abuse that had moderate to severe effects on your life."]}],"proceedings":null,"relatedSlugs":[],"group":null,"cardSummary":"If you were abused by a current or former Christian Brother while a student at Vancouver College (1976 to 2013) or St. Thomas More Collegiate (1976 to 1989), you can apply for compensation.","proofRequired":"","claimTime":"","claimAmount":"","coverageStartDate":"1976-01-01","coverageEndDate":"2013-12-31","deadline":"2027-09-13","optOutDeadline":"2024-11-28","objectionDeadline":"2026-04-16","approvalHearingDate":"","approvalHearingDates":[],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-08-26","lastUpdated":"2026-09-12","firstPublishedAt":"2026-08-29 04:27:25","claimsOpenedAt":"2026-09-12 22:41:36","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-09-12","languages":["en","fr"]}}