Troubled Teen Industry News

Matt Toppi and Christopher Brown, students, died accidentally while trying to escape Robert Land Academy in 1998

Staff at RLA used the story to intimidate students for years

Martin (last name withheld) is suing RLA for $5 million for covering up sexual assault. His mother is suing RLA for $2 million for failing their duty of care towards her son

Founder/former headmaster of RLA: Scott Bowman

Matthew Lefave is a lawyer who is representing 10+ clients in separate lawsuits against RLA

RLA originally housed 28 students who called themselves the “Bowman Bunch”

RLA now houses ~125 students

RLA’s campus is modeled after a 19th century British fort, with students sleeping in barracks and eating in a mess hall

RLA students are given military-inspired ranks to mark progress, including recruit, cadet, sergeant, and warrant officer

During the first month of “treatment”, boys receive the harshest punishments from staff and other students

Staff mostly have not served in the military but students are required to call them lieutenant and captain

“One former RLA Student, who is now seventeen, alleged in documents filed at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario in 2021 that he experienced emotional and physical abuse as well as anti-Black racism when he attended the school in the fall of 2019.”

RLA’s parent manual describes the following punishments: “laps, physical exercise, loss of privileges, extra chores, suspension from regular duties, loss of leaves and stand downs, or dismissal.”

It has been illegal for teachers or other school employees to use physical punishment since 2004

Bowman has been lying about his military credentials for decades

In 2010, a student named Donald MacNeil died by suicide while he was being transported back to RLA after a term break

Nearly 70% of RLA students had been diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, or learning disabilities

Current board chair of RLA is Tim Hudak, former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader

“In 2023, former Ontario health minister and deputy premier Christine Elliott received an award from the school at its annual gala.”

Quotes from survivors posting on r/troubledteens supplied more details about the abuse at RLA