Ontario College of Teachers v. Reid, 2025 ONOCT 68

DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE OF THE ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS

Citation: Ontario College of Teachers v Reid 2025 ONOCT 68

Date: 2025-11-04

DECISION, REASONS FOR DECISION AND ORDER

IN THE MATTER OF the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 and the Regulation (Ontario Regulation 437/97) thereunder;

AND IN THE MATTER OF a discipline proceeding against Roger James Reid, a member of the Ontario College of Teachers.

BETWEEN:

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS

– and –

ROGER JAMES REID (REGISTRATION #249510)

PANEL: Kimberley Westfall-Connor, Chair Adam Lee, OCT Kayla Stephenson

By order of Justice C. Emrich of the Ontario Court of Justice, there is a publication ban on any information that could identify the victim or a witness in this matter, pursuant to subsection 486.4(1) of the Criminal Code.

1This matter was referred to the Discipline Committee (the “Committee”) of the Ontario College of Teachers (the “College”) under subsection 26(9) of the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 (the “Act”). In accordance with subsection 30.2(8) of the Act and rule 9.03 of the Rules of Procedure of the Discipline Committee and of the Fitness to Practise Committee (the “Rules”), the Committee disposed of the matter without a hearing.

A. PUBLICATION ban

2The Panel received a certified copy of the transcript of the Reasons for Judgment from Roger James Reid’s (the “Member”) criminal proceeding before Justice K. Gorman on December 7, 2018. In these proceedings before the Ontario Court of Justice, an order restricting publication was made by Justice C. Emrich pursuant to section 486.4 of the Criminal Code of Canada. The Panel is required to uphold this publication ban. Accordingly, any information that could identify the victim or a witness involved in this matter shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way.

B. THE ALLEGATIONS

3The allegations against the Member in the Notice of Referral dated June 10, 2025 are as follows:

IT IS ALLEGED that Roger James Reid is guilty of professional misconduct as defined in the Act in that:

(a) he abused a student or students sexually, contrary to Ontario Regulation 437/97, subsection 1(7.3) and/or engaged in the sexual abuse of a student or students as defined in section 1 of the Act;

(b) he contravened a law, the contravention of which has caused or may cause a student who is under the member’s professional supervision to be put at or to remain at risk, contrary to Ontario Regulation 437/97, subsection 1(17).

C. The evidence

4The Panel was provided with the Registered Member Information for the Member, which indicates that he was a Member of the College at all material times. The Panel also received the following documents:

1. Certified Copy of Court Information, Adjournments- Adjournment record, and Court indictment, including the appearances, endorsements, and dispositions in the criminal proceeding;

2. Transcript of the Reasons for Judgement before Justice K. Gorman of December 7, 2018 in the Ontario Court of Justice, certified on October 25, 2019;

3. Decision on constitutional application and sentencing proceeding of Justice K. Gorman, dated September 11, 2020;

4. Certified copy of the Prohibition Order;

5. Affidavit of Kelly Reeves, sworn on June 19, 2025; and

6. Affidavit of Service of Kelly Reeves, sworn on June 19, 2025.

5Subrule 9.03(4) of the Rules provides that the Panel can accept a certified copy of a Court Information, Indictment or Endorsement, or transcripts of the proceedings at which the criminal conviction or the finding of guilt occurred to be proof that the member has engaged in sexual abuse of a student.

D. DECISION on finding and penalty, and reasons for decision

6Having considered the findings of the criminal court, the Panel finds that the Member engaged in acts of professional misconduct contrary to Ontario Regulation 437/97, subsections 1(7.3) and 1(17). The Panel further finds that the Member engaged in sexual abuse of a student as defined in section 1 of the Act.

7The Member has been found guilty of an offence under the Criminal Code which has caused or may cause a student who is under the member’s professional supervision to be put at or to remain at risk, contrary to subsection 1(17) of Ontario Regulation 437/97. The documents presented by the College establish that on December 7, 2018, in the Ontario Court of Justice, the Member was convicted of, one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation, contrary to sections 271 and 153(1)(a) of the Criminal Code. The sexual assault finding was later stayed in accordance with the Kienapple principle. The Member appealed his conviction to the Ontario Court of Appeal and on April 26, 2024, the appeal was endorsed as abandoned. Members of the teaching profession are responsible for the safety and well-being of students. The Member’s conviction demonstrates that he put a student who was under his professional supervision at risk. Those who engage in criminal behaviour of a sexual nature with a student have committed an egregious violation of trust that erodes the public’s trust and confidence in the profession and cast serious doubt on their ability to practice as a teacher.

8The Panel also finds that the conduct for which the Member was convicted constitutes sexual abuse of a student contrary to subsection 1(7.3) of Ontario Regulation 437/97, and as defined in section 1 of the Act. Given this finding, section 30.2(1) of the Act provides that the Panel must make an order: (1) requiring that the Member be reprimanded by the Committee; and (2) directing the Registrar to revoke the Member’s certificate of qualification and registration. The Panel notes that it has no discretion regarding making this order. The mandatory penalty provisions apply retrospectively in this case pursuant to section 63.2 of the Act.¹ The College does not seek any additional order.

9The Panel makes the following order:

1. The Member to receive a written reprimand, and the fact of the reprimand shall be recorded on the Register of the Ontario College of Teachers; and

2. The Registrar of the Ontario College of Teachers is directed to immediately revoke the Certificate and Qualification and Registration of the Member.

10The reprimand will be delivered to the Member in writing in accordance with subrule 9.03(8) of the Rules.

11The Panel denounces the Member’s misconduct in the strongest terms.

Footnotes

1. 1Although the mandatory penalty provisions were not in force at the time of the Member’s sexual abuse of the student, section 63.2 of the Act provides that the mandatory penalty provisions at section 30.2 apply retrospectively where the sexual abuse occurred before April 3, 2019 and no order has been made under subsection 30(4) of the Act before then. These conditions are met in this case.