Former Christian School Director Found Guilty of Weapon Assault on Students
Joshua Olubobokun, former director of Christian Centre Academy in Saskatoon, has been found guilty of assaulting students with a wooden paddle during his tenure between 2003 and 2007.
According to testimonies, students were called into his office, ordered to bend over a desk or chair, and struck multiple times with a wooden paddle as punishment. Some affected children suffered visible bruises; in one case, the paddle reportedly broke during the assault.
The verdict, delivered by Judge Lisa Watson, concluded that the Crown had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Olubobokun’s actions constituted assault.
Former students who had long awaited justice expressed relief and emotion in court. “To have the justice system say this wasn’t OK, that’s very validating and healing for everybody,” said former student Caitlin Erickson.
She described the judgment as a long-overdue moment of justice and healing for those who had endured abuse at the hands of an authority figure in what should have been a safe learning environment.
This case breaches several children’s rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. These include the right to protection from all forms of physical and mental violence, the right to be free from cruel and degrading treatment, and the right to receive education in an environment that respects their dignity.
These assaults represented a complete failure to uphold the safety, and dignity of the children entrusted to the care of the school.
