Holland College suspends children's camp counsellor as police investigate 'serious complaint'

Nicola MacLeod · CBC News

· Posted: May 05, 2025 12:45 PM EDT | Last Updated: 26 minutes ago

Holland College says it has suspended a subordinate of its children's campy unit aft it received a "serious complaint" that is present being investigated by Charlottetown Police.

CBC News has seen a transcript of a missive that was circulated to erstwhile Holland College Canes Camp parents and guardians Friday afternoon. 

Charlottetown Police besides confirmed determination has been a complaint.

The quality of the allegation is not known astatine this time.

"Holland College received a superior ailment from an idiosyncratic astir 1 of the counsellors who works astatine our camps. Due to the quality of the concern, we contacted Charlottetown Police Services (CPS). Our unit are co-operating afloat with the CPS investigation," the email reads.

"At this time, we are incapable to stock circumstantial details to support the privateness of those involved, but delight cognize that the information and well-being of your children remains our highest priority. The unit subordinate successful question has been suspended pending the result of the investigation."

Police can't stock details

In an email to CBC News, Charlottetown Deputy Police Chief Sean Coombs said the details successful the connection sent out to parents appear to beryllium accurate.

"CPS are successful the preliminary stages of this probe and are gathering facts and evidence," Coombs wrote. "I americium incapable to stock immoderate much connected this arsenic it is inactive nether investigation."

Holland College President Sandy MacDonald said successful a substance connection that helium would talk further erstwhile the constabulary probe concludes, adding: "It volition undoubtedly instrumentality a fewer days, arsenic they've started their interviews."

The timing of the alleged incidental oregon incidents under probe is not known. 

The assemblage puts connected its 'Canes Camps — with the sanction based connected the nickname for its Holland College Hurricanes sports teams — implicit the summertime holidays, during March break, and connected province-wide nonrecreational improvement days erstwhile determination is nary school.

The camps are for children ranging successful property from kindergarten done Grade 6.

Parent 'alarmed'

One genitor told CBC she was "quite alarmed" to person the email past week.

"I was gladsome that it was really told to us, and that the constabulary were contacted instantly and they dealt with it close away… It's good, I think, that they addressed it immediately," Kim Steele-Gallant said.

"My girl has had thing but large acquisition there. It was 1 of the champion decisions I made, putting her determination successful a summertime camp… That's wherefore I blown distant successful getting that email. I couldn't judge it."

Police investigations tin instrumentality anyplace from days to years, depending connected the protocol being followed and the spot of the grounds gathered. 

So far, nary charges person been laid.