NEW GLASGOW — A Nova Scotia law firm has served notice of an intended class action alleging students were abused while attending Dr. W.A. MacLeod Consolidated School in Riverton, touching off fresh questions about school safety and accountability in the Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education.
Criminal charges and a civil response
MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law announced the notice on Friday, saying it represents four plaintiffs and intends to file a statement of claim in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia after the statutorily required two-month notice period.
The legal move follows criminal charges against a 53-year-old man from Bible Hill who taught at the K-to-8 school. Court documents list 10 charges including two counts of assault by choking, sexual assault and administering a noxious thing. The alleged offences are said to have taken place between Sept. 3 and Sept. 10, 2026 and involved four victims.
Release conditions and publication ban
The accused appeared in Pictou Provincial Court and was released with conditions. According to court records, those conditions require that he reside with a surety in Dartmouth, not contact or communicate with 10 individuals named in the documents and that he abide by a curfew. A publication ban is in place to protect any information that could identify the alleged victims.
School board response and police statement
Nova Scotia RCMP said there may be additional victims; the force has urged anyone with information to come forward. The school district told The Canadian Press the teacher’s access to the school and students was removed when it received the initial report and that the teacher is currently on unpaid leave. A spokesperson could not provide further comment on the pending class action.
Call for other affected families to come forward
John MacGillis, a spokesperson for MacGillivray Law, said the firm has four plaintiffs so far and is seeking other parents or guardians of students who attended Dr. W.A. MacLeod Consolidated School between Sept. 1, 2025 and Sept. 10, 2026.
"If there are any other victims who are interested in coming forward, whether it be to us, or it can be RCMP … it's incredibly important at this time," MacGillis said.
What the notice of intended class action means
A notice of intended class action is a formal step that warns a named institution it may soon face a class suit if unresolved. MacGillivray Law said the plaintiffs intend to claim compensatory damages, and the firm has two months from the notice to proceed with a statement of claim in the provincial Supreme Court.
- Who is included: Students who attended Dr. W.A. MacLeod Consolidated School between Sept. 1, 2025 and Sept. 10, 2026.
- Current plaintiffs: Four families represented by MacGillivray Law.
- Police standing: RCMP say there may be more victims and investigators are urging contact from anyone with relevant information.
Local impact and community concerns
Dr. W.A. MacLeod Consolidated School serves children from kindergarten to Grade 8 and is an integral part of the Riverton community. Allegations of this nature reverberate widely through small-town school communities, where parents and guardians expect close oversight and safety in publicly funded schools. The combination of criminal proceedings and a pending civil class action places the Chignecto Central Regional Centre for Education under scrutiny about its policies, supervision and response protocols.
Next steps for families and the school
The law firm’s public call may bring additional complaints or potential plaintiffs to light, while RCMP continue their criminal investigation. The school district has confirmed the teacher’s access was removed after the initial allegation was received; beyond that, officials have declined further comment while legal and police processes proceed.
| Key dates | Action |
|---|---|
| Sept. 1, 2025–Sept. 10, 2026 | Period for students the law firm is seeking to include in the proposed class |
| Sept. 3–10, 2026 | Alleged offences listed in court documents |
| Two months after notice | Expected filing of statement of claim in Supreme Court of Nova Scotia |
The coming weeks will be pivotal for families seeking answers and for the community at large. Anyone with relevant information or concerns about incidents at the school during the specified period is being asked to contact MacGillivray Law or the Nova Scotia RCMP.
— Reporting from New Glasgow.
