B.C. Supreme Court OKs $30 M settlement for Vancouver Catholic school abuse

The British Columbia Supreme Court has approved a $30 million class‑action settlement covering former students who say they were physically, sexually or psychologically abused by members of the Christian Brothers at Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate. The deal, signed in February, does not admit liability but provides a confidential, trauma‑informed compensation process. Justice Simon Coval noted the settlement is fair and in the best interests of class members, but allowed 12 additional former students to opt out and pursue individual lawsuits, a move that could let the three defending parties – the two schools and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver – withdraw from the agreement.

More than 200 alleged victims have been identified, and the case centers on abuse that allegedly occurred between 1976 and 2013. The plaintiffs are represented by CFM Lawyers, which argued that the settlement would avoid lengthy trials and deliver quicker relief to survivors.