Jeannie McKay

In the aftermath, Ali says the administrators slut-shamed her. But she's more eloquent in her words to the police.

In the aftermath, Ali says the administrators slut-shamed her. But she's more eloquent in her words to the police.

Wow. What did it feel like to write that and then hit send?

Wow. What did it feel like to write that and then hit send?

New laws. I've talked before about the changing landscape of Canada's sexual assault legislation. A series of new laws were put in place in the 1980s. These laws didn't exist when Anne-Marie Robinson and Jeannie McKay say they were assaulted. The old laws took a narrow view on consent. Had the girl gone to bed with the teacher willingly?

New laws. I've talked before about the changing landscape of Canada's sexual assault legislation. A series of new laws were put in place in the 1980s. These laws didn't exist when Anne-Marie Robinson and Jeannie McKay say they were assaulted. The old laws took a narrow view on consent. Had the girl gone to bed with the teacher willingly?

Those laws didn't consider grooming or the power imbalance between teacher and student. or a coach and a player, a doctor and a patient. But in the late 1980s, a new criminal code violation was introduced called sexual exploitation. This is how it reads.

Those laws didn't consider grooming or the power imbalance between teacher and student. or a coach and a player, a doctor and a patient. But in the late 1980s, a new criminal code violation was introduced called sexual exploitation. This is how it reads.

Every person commits an offense who is in a position of trust or authority towards a young person, who is a person with whom the young person is in a relationship of dependency. and who for a sexual purpose touches directly or indirectly with a part of the body or with an object any part of the body of the young person, or invites, counsels, or incites a young person to touch a part of the body.

Every person commits an offense who is in a position of trust or authority towards a young person, who is a person with whom the young person is in a relationship of dependency. and who for a sexual purpose touches directly or indirectly with a part of the body or with an object any part of the body of the young person, or invites, counsels, or incites a young person to touch a part of the body.

And the definition of a young person here is someone under 18. An adult being in a position of power changed the rules. Ali shared the news about going to the police with the other survivors.

And the definition of a young person here is someone under 18. An adult being in a position of power changed the rules. Ali shared the news about going to the police with the other survivors.

Do you wish that, that, um, you had done this 35 years ago? Or are you glad that you're moving forward as an adult, more aware of what the laws are?

Do you wish that, that, um, you had done this 35 years ago? Or are you glad that you're moving forward as an adult, more aware of what the laws are?

Now, Ali will wait to hear back from the police. It's been a difficult few months for Allie, ever since the women gathered at her Toronto home. It dredged up long-buried teenage memories, but it also reminded her of band, of making music. She's back in touch with high school bandmates, and she's thought more about the importance of music in her life.

Now, Ali will wait to hear back from the police. It's been a difficult few months for Allie, ever since the women gathered at her Toronto home. It dredged up long-buried teenage memories, but it also reminded her of band, of making music. She's back in touch with high school bandmates, and she's thought more about the importance of music in her life.

Sitting down at her piano and writing this song has helped.

Sitting down at her piano and writing this song has helped.

And it's a distraction, taking her mind off the waiting. But Ali doesn't have to wait long for a response from the police. Just a week later, I get another call.

And it's a distraction, taking her mind off the waiting. But Ali doesn't have to wait long for a response from the police. Just a week later, I get another call.