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SPECIAL REPORT
by Kim Pemberton
Vancouver Sun april 19, 2001, p. A1

Former staff members, residents and their family members say, physical and emotional abuse was routine- and no one was charged

Woodlands Institution was once considered to be a safe haven for the mentally disabled.

Parents of children with disabilities clamered to have their children placed in the New Westminster facility, which housed up to 1500 persons and at one time had a waiting list of 800.

But those who didn't get in may have been the fortunate ones, according to information just now coming to light.

A government ordered investigation is under way to determine whether sexual and physical abuse of residents by staff and others in positions of trust was widespread at the provincial institution.

The Vancouver Sun has learned the province has appointed former B.C. ombudsman Dulcie McCallum to review Woodlands records covering the period from 1950- 1996- when the institution closed- to determine if there was a history of systemic abuse.

She has been asked to pay particular attention to the period from 1976 to 1986, and report to the ministry for children and families sometime this spring.

McCallum refused comment on the focus of the investigation, which began after the government received allegations of abuse from former residents, according to a government document obtained by The Sun.

"The deputy [ for the ministry for children and families] decided to have a look at the files for a certain period of time to determine if there is any evidence of historic systemic abuse," McCallum said in an interview.

"The province had a few people come forward and complain and rather than dealing with it piecemeal they decided to be proactive."

Until she completes the review of the files, she said, its too early to say whether there will be a second stage to the investigation or whether her findings will be made public by the government.

A Sun investigation turned up numerous allegation of staff members assaulting residents- sexually and physically. In every instance, according to those who are reporting the abuse, the staff member involved was allowed to resign instead of being charged. No criminal charges have ever been laid against a staff member at the 118-year old institution.

See ABUSERS WERE A6

[Photo Caption] Norman Manuego, 37, was a resident at Woodlands before it closed in 1996. His mother Jackie believes he was physically abused there.

[Photo Credit] Chuck Russell / special to the Sun