Evidence of sexual misconduct found against Ontario choir teacher

In 2021, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College in Barry's Bay, Ontario launched an independent investigation into former music professor Uwe Lieflander after it was alleged that he acted inappropriately with a former student.

The report came back with evidence showing that Lieflander had engaged in misconduct both while the student was enrolled and after she left.

On March 30, the college released a statement on the matter, detailing the findings of the investigation.

The report reveals that Lieflander had emotionally and psychologically abused the victim while she was enrolled as a student, but that the abuse only became sexual once she had left the school.

There is no evidence that there were any other victims.

The report found that there were "red flags" hinting that Lieflander was acting inappropriately, but that school authorities did not heed them adequately. The report also stated that the measures in place to prevent such behaviour at the time (2008-2017) were inadequate.

That being said, it was found that upon hearing of the allegations against Lieflander in 2017, the school did respond appropriately.

Upon hearing of the allegations, the college has sent the victim funds to undergo counselling. As for Lieflander, his contract was not renewed, and he is currently overseas.

According to police, there is a warrant out for Lieflander's arrest, and he will be taken into custody if he ever comes back to Canada.

In their statement, the college said it is working to better prevent such things from happening in the future.

"Since 2017," they wrote, "as a result of the 2017 allegations against Lieflander, the College has already made some changes to its oversight of faculty and staff members and to its policies and procedures to ensure the College is a safe place for all, including providing all students a mandatory, yearly presentation on consent."

The college has also "developing a stand-alone sexual violence policy to augment what is in the College’s Anti-abuse, Violence, and Harassment Policy," and better training their staff on the issue of maintaining "appropriate boundaries" with students.