Julie Ireton

Tell me your name. Tell me, you know, what city we're in and I'll get a level on your voice.

Tell me your name. Tell me, you know, what city we're in and I'll get a level on your voice.

It's October 2021. And we're sitting in my backyard. My dog is being taunted by the neighborhood squirrels. You can edit all this, right? Archie the Aussie Doodle is actually a good distraction, an unofficial therapy dog. Anne-Marie is a bit nervous. Her shoulders are hunched. Her dark brown bangs hide the top of her eyes, like a shield. She's in her early 60s, but looks younger.

It's October 2021. And we're sitting in my backyard. My dog is being taunted by the neighborhood squirrels. You can edit all this, right? Archie the Aussie Doodle is actually a good distraction, an unofficial therapy dog. Anne-Marie is a bit nervous. Her shoulders are hunched. Her dark brown bangs hide the top of her eyes, like a shield. She's in her early 60s, but looks younger.

Anne Marie sought me out. And we've spoken several times since she first reached out to me in 2020. We took our time to build trust. I didn't want to rush Anne Marie into telling her story. So this is a first for the microphone. She's ready.

Anne Marie sought me out. And we've spoken several times since she first reached out to me in 2020. We took our time to build trust. I didn't want to rush Anne Marie into telling her story. So this is a first for the microphone. She's ready.

She tracked down Peter Hamer. I told his story in the last season of The Band Played On. In that series, I discovered more than 50 victims of sexual abuse. Three teachers from one school preyed on those teens over decades. Peter is one of those survivors. I found answers. He found closure. Anne-Marie comes from another school in a different city, but she wants to take that journey.

She tracked down Peter Hamer. I told his story in the last season of The Band Played On. In that series, I discovered more than 50 victims of sexual abuse. Three teachers from one school preyed on those teens over decades. Peter is one of those survivors. I found answers. He found closure. Anne-Marie comes from another school in a different city, but she wants to take that journey.

Peter has words of warning.

Peter has words of warning.

And while this season will touch on similar themes, I'm already surprised at how different the attitudes, responses, and excuses are in cases involving girls rather than boys. I envision different bumps and larger craters along this road with Anne-Marie.

And while this season will touch on similar themes, I'm already surprised at how different the attitudes, responses, and excuses are in cases involving girls rather than boys. I envision different bumps and larger craters along this road with Anne-Marie.

I've done my homework too. Googled Anne-Marie's name right after her first call. I found government reports, photos, media clippings, plenty of information about her, and videos.

I've done my homework too. Googled Anne-Marie's name right after her first call. I found government reports, photos, media clippings, plenty of information about her, and videos.

Anne-Marie Robinson was a big deal in the Canadian government, a top bureaucrat. She often presented to politicians in parliamentary committees.

Anne-Marie Robinson was a big deal in the Canadian government, a top bureaucrat. She often presented to politicians in parliamentary committees.

The commission oversees the federal workforce. It's not a union. It's part of the government. So it's kind of like an auditor general because it's basically a regulator of the staffing authority. And she was in charge. Watching these videos, it's almost like looking at a different person. She wears confidence with her fitted business suits.

The commission oversees the federal workforce. It's not a union. It's part of the government. So it's kind of like an auditor general because it's basically a regulator of the staffing authority. And she was in charge. Watching these videos, it's almost like looking at a different person. She wears confidence with her fitted business suits.

In fluent bureaucraties, she rattles off stats, methods and protocols in two official languages. But at some point that policy wonk was overtaken by dark painful memories. Now she's ready to talk about what brought her here. So on my deck wrangling the dog and the microphone I start asking questions. I need to know everything. But I know we'll need to take it slowly. Tell me where you grew up.

In fluent bureaucraties, she rattles off stats, methods and protocols in two official languages. But at some point that policy wonk was overtaken by dark painful memories. Now she's ready to talk about what brought her here. So on my deck wrangling the dog and the microphone I start asking questions. I need to know everything. But I know we'll need to take it slowly. Tell me where you grew up.