Jarett and Evan, two of the former students who began the effort to learn more about Robert Land, described it as a place where abuse was expected and staff were encouraged to inflict harsh punishments on students and in front of other students to instill a sense of fear.
In a statement of defence, Robert Land denied all of Evan’s allegations from 1999 to 2000, including that it created an environment that allowed staff to harm him. It has not filed statements of defence for the lawsuits filed by Jarett or Longfield, as they’re on hold during the bankruptcy proceedings.
“It’s a difficult thing to endure I would imagine for anybody but as a 14-year-old, the shadows were cast over my entire life,” Jarett said.
Jarett and Evan left Robert Land at the end of the school year but ended up living on the streets of Vancouver, something Evan has struggled with off and on, even today. Longfield says he also experienced homelessness as well as alcoholism and was in and out of jail for years.
“I always thought I deserved what happened to me at Robert Land,” Longfield said. “But then I had kids and realized I was just a kid then, too.”
Evan says he couldn’t let go of what happened, and that’s why he started researching the school a few years ago. Then he got Jarett on board and they connected with dozens of more men who’d gone to Robert Land.
“The more people I started to talk to, the more powerful I felt in embracing the truth of what happened to me,” Jarett said. “I have a group of brothers now who will probably be my friends for the rest of my life.”
WATCH | For The National, former Robert Land students describe what they suffered and where they go from here:
