Phillip Abbink

The member, a teacher, faced allegations of professional misconduct for touching a colleague without her consent on multiple occasions.

The member pleaded no contest to the allegations and agreed to a statement of uncontested facts.

The Discipline Committee found the member guilty of professional misconduct, specifically engaging in disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional conduct, and conduct unbecoming a member.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a four-month suspension of the member's certificate of qualification and registration, and the successful completion of coursework on professional boundaries.

The Ontario College of Teachers brought a discipline proceeding against the member for professional misconduct.

The member entered a plea of no contest and the parties presented a joint submission on penalty.

The Discipline Committee found that the member engaged in professional misconduct contrary to subsections 1(18) and 1(19) of Ontario Regulation 437/97.

The Committee accepted the joint submission and ordered a reprimand, a four-month suspension of the member's certificate, and the completion of coursework on professional boundaries.