WATCH: Anne Leclair talks with Benedict Matthew Bissonette, who is hoping to launch a class-action lawsuit against the city for ignoring ongoing alleged child abuse.
MONTREAL — A former PeeWee hockey player is taking on the City of Westmount and attempting to launch a class action lawsuit against the affluent Montreal suburb. In his first televised interview with Global News, Matthew Bissonette spoke out about the sexual abuse he claims he suffered at the hands of his former hockey coach.
“There are victims out there who haven’t had the chance to come forward and haven’t gotten the help they need,” said Bissonette from his home in Los Angeles, where he now works as a film director.
John Garland coached Westmount’s PeeWee All Star hockey team for 34 years and Bissonette believes he’s one of 50 victims. A class action lawsuit would allow potential victims to come forward anonymously.
“What’s important now is to help the people who were victimized to create a climate where victims can come forward and get the help they need to engage in a healing process that lasts a lifetime,” said Bissonette.
The 49-year-old said he tried to turn to Montreal police on two occasions in the 1990s while attending Law School at Queen’s University, but says officers were quick to dismiss his allegations of abuse.
“The police department didn’t believe me,” said Bissonette. “They accused me of fabricating the claims.”
The case was re-opened by a Crown Prosecutor in 2012 but two months into the process, Garland died.
The former hockey player decided to launch a class action lawsuit after learning that he wasn’t the only victim. He now has the support of Sheldon Kennedy, a former NHL player and child abuse advocate.
“I think it takes a lot of courage,” said Sheldon Kennedy.
“I think Matt is just looking for justice and wondering how an individual could possibly operate for so long in this type of atmosphere.”
Westmount Mayor Peter Trent insists this is only one person’s unsupported allegations. And, according to Trent, one big problem is that all the key players from the Westmount Parks and Recreation Department at that time have since passed away.
One man who doesn’t believe the allegations is Dave McCrindle, a fellow army veteran and former friend of Garland’s.
“He was a good veteran and a good sportsman,” insisted 93-year-old McCrindle, from his Côte-St-Luc appartment.
Kennedy said pedophiles are normally not the people you would expect.
“The reality is, you know what, they want themselves to be somebody that is never questioned and would be the last person looked at,” he said. Kennedy added he isn’t surprised to hear Bissonette’s case was never taken seriously by police.
“A lot of times cases like this bring a lot of shame on organizations, so in the past we have all seen a ton of cover up, a ton of denial, and that’s quite normal,” said Kennedy.
Bissonette is seeking $125,000 in compensation and hopes the City of Westmount will also acknowledge the years of alleged abuse.
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