St. Michael's College School announces resignations of
President and Principal, enabling focus on healing and change
Interim President and Vice Principals to assume acting leadership
Toronto, ON (November 22, 2018) – St. Michael’s College School has announced that
President Fr. Jefferson Thompson, CSB, and Principal Greg Reeves have resigned,
effective immediately, citing their shared desire to move the school forward without
distractions and allow it to focus on healing and change after the horrific events of student
misbehaviour that came to light last week.
The Board of Directors has also appointed Fr. Andrew Leung, CSB, as interim president,
effective immediately. A former science and physics teacher at St. Michael’s College
School from 2013 to 2016, he is currently pastor and rector of St. Alphonsus and St. Clare
parishes in Edmonton. Vice Principals Emile John and David Lee will serve as acting coprincipals. The appointments have the support of the Superior General, Fr. Kevin Storey,
CSB, and the General Council of the Basilian Fathers.
The Board will be launching a search for new permanent leadership of the school. with
its highest priority being to implement the findings of the independent Respect and Culture
Review.
“Greg Reeves and Fr. Thompson have always put the welfare, education and formation
of our students first – and they do so once again today,” says Michael Forsayeth, the
Chair of the Board of Directors. “Having fulfilled their moral and ethical obligations to
manage the immediate crisis and engage our school community, this courageous
decision allows us to move forward with our goals: understanding how these events could
have occurred, regaining the trust of our community and bringing cultural change to our
school.”
Action plan
St. Michael’s College School has taken immediate action to:
1. Launch a SMCS Respect and Culture Review, led by an independent third-party
committee. The Board is working to identify members. It will examine the traditions,
rituals, and social practices of students at every grade level and in all areas of
school life.
2. Cancel all events involving external groups, teams and public performances for the
remainder of 2018.
3. Cancel mid-year assessments for 2018. Instead, students will participate in
workshops and discussions pertaining to the recent issues.
4. Implement an anonymous voicemail for students. The school asks students to
report any inappropriate behaviours and incidents they have experienced, seen,
or heard about at the school.

 ABOUT ST. MICHAEL’S COLLEGE SCHOOL
Since 1852, St. Michael's College School has been educating and forming young men in
goodness, discipline, and knowledge for lives of leadership and service. We are Canada's
only Catholic, Basilian, faith-based independent school, educating young men from
Grades 7 to 12 in a university-preparatory programme, and forming them with a
foundation for life.
For more information:
Lianne Castelino
416-316-7672
castelino@smcsmail.com
Michael De Pellegrin
647-242-2226
md@smcsmail.com