Robert Land Academy

Location: 6727 S Chippawa Rd, Wellandport, ON L0R 2J0, Canada

Founder: G. Scott Bowman
Founded: 1978
Closed: 2025

Residents: boys
11-18 years old
grades 5-12

Tuition: at least $64,000¹

Number of students: 125¹

Off-campus student deaths: Cristopher Brown (16 years old, 1998), Matt Toppi (17 years old, 1998), Donald MacNeil (18 years old, 2010)

Abuse allegations: physical and emotional abuse, racism, food deprivation, sleep deprivation, failure to prevent incidents of child-on-child sexual abuse

A lawyer named Matthew Lefave is representing 50+ clients in lawsuits against RLA!

Phase system
(low to high)
Recruit
Cadet
Barman
Leading Barman
Master Barman
Double Barman
Lance Corporal
Corporal
Master Corporal
Sergeant
Warrant Officer

“Students must stand at attention and salute at the request of instructors, most of whom have never served in the military but go by titles such as lieutenant and captain.”¹

Headmaster – “Lieutenant Colonel” Peter Stock
Deputy Headmaster – “Major” Bill Simmons

Teachers:
“Captain” Edward Aoki, “Lieutenant” Paula Sinclair, “Lieutenant” Andrew Guy, “Lieutenant” Rob Hancock, “Lieutenant” Rachelle Heida, “Captain” John Milliken, “Captain” Blair Servos, “Lieutenant” Stephanie Flagg, “Second Lieutenant” Jeffrey Davidson, Elizabeth Ferguson, “Captain” Kevin Brown

Exclusive: A Military-Style School for Troubled Teens Became a “Living Nightmare” | The Walrus

Robert Land Academy promised to reform boys into “good citizens.” Former students allege it subjected them to years of humiliation, degradation, and abuse

thewalrus.ca

Allegations of Abuse at Robert Land Academy Go Right to the Top | The Walrus

A new lawsuit claims that the top brass at the military-style boarding school for “troubled teens” covered up sexual assault

thewalrus.ca

Abuse accusations at ‘military-style’ Ontario school – Transcript | CBC Radio

Front Burner Transcript for August 28, 2024

www.cbc.ca

Exclusive: Robert Land Academy Is Closing for Good | The Walrus

Facing multi-million-dollar lawsuits alleging decades of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, the military-style private boarding school is shuttering after nearly fifty years

thewalrus.ca

An Explosion of Abuse Allegations Against a Military-Style Boarding School | The Walrus

Following an investigation into Robert Land Academy by The Walrus, dozens more alleged victims have come forward—and are pursuing legal action

thewalrus.ca

Tyranny and Trauma: My Years at Robert Land Academy from 11 to 15

I never thought I would be able to write something like this blog. For most of my life, I carried my years at what was once labeled North America’s toughest and roughest boarding school like a badge of honor. Robert Land…

petermerrick.com