dispute resolution

The College uses Dispute Resolution (DR) to facilitate the resolution of suitable complaints regarding members of the profession. DR is voluntary and without prejudice to the parties. The results of the DR process are similar to those that would be expected following a full investigation and/or contested hearing.

The members in the cases reported here have consented to the publication of a summary of the complaint and its resolution.

Member: Not identified
Decision: Admonished

Following notification by an employer the Registrar initiated a complaint against a member of the College. The Registrar alleged that, in response to a student aggressively bumping into him, the member was involved in a physical altercation with a male secondary school student.

On July 25, 2006 the Investigation Committee ratified a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the member and the College in which the member:

• admitted to the alleged conduct
• agreed to be admonished in writing by the Investigation Committee regarding his conduct
• agreed to complete a course of instruction, pre-approved by the Registrar, regarding appropriate anger-management strategies
• agreed to provide the Registrar with written confirmation of successful completion of the course
• agreed to a notation regarding this matter being maintained on the College's public register
• agreed to notify the Registrar of any future complaints of a similar nature made to his employer.

Member: Not identified
Decision: Cautioned

Following notification by an employer the Registrar initiated a complaint against a member of the College. The Registrar alleged that the member had searched for, accessed, viewed and downloaded adult pornographic Internet web sites on his classroom desktop computer.

On July 25, 2006 the Investigation Committee ratified an MOA between the member and the College in which the member:

• admitted to the alleged conduct
• agreed to be cautioned in writing by the Investigation Committee regarding the complaint.

Member: Not identified
Decision: Cautioned by the Investigation Committee

Following notification by an employer the Registrar initiated a complaint against a member of the College. The Registrar alleged that the member continued to telephone and e-mail a former colleague despite her having told him she was not interested in having a personal relationship with him. The member also involved two secondary school students in attempts to learn more about the member.

On July 25, 2006 the Investigation Committee ratified an MOA between the member and the College in which:

• the member agreed to be cautioned in writing by the Investigation Committee regarding the complaint
• the parties acknowledged that the member had successfully completed a course of instruction regarding harassment, human rights and the importance of respecting appropriate boundaries within the school community.

Member: Not identified
Decision: Cautioned

Following notification by an employer the Registrar initiated a complaint against a member of the College. The Registrar alleged that the member:

• made inappropriate comments to secondary school students, which included sexual innuendo and profanity
• threw a pen at a student
• threw a tin can on the ground when he was angry
• showed favouritism toward certain students.

On August 28, 2006 the Investigation Committee ratified an MOA between the member and the College in which the member agreed:

• to be admonished in writing by the Investigation Committee regarding the Registrar's complaint
• to successfully complete a course of instruction, pre-approved by the Registrar, regarding maintaining appropriate boundaries with students
• to provide the Registrar with written confirmation of successful completion of the course.

Member: Mario Rossi
Registry number: 146541
Decision: Cancelled/resigned

Following notification by the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Registrar initiated a complaint against Mario Rossi. The Registrar alleged that the member:

• invited a female secondary school student to his classroom to get her exam results
• told the student's friends to leave so that she was left alone with him
• turned out the lights, closed the door and closed the blinds
• told the student to “find the surprise” which was a note in the front of his pants indicating that she was his favourite and that he would be waiting to say goodbye to her “in a special way.”

In June 2006 the member was convicted of sexual exploitation with respect to the above allegations.

On September 20, 2006 the Investigation Committee ratified an MOA between the member and the College in which the member agreed:

• to resign his membership in the College
• to the cancellation of his Certificates of Qualification and Registration by the Registrar
• to surrender his Certificates of Qualification and Registration to the Registrar
• not to apply to the College for Certificates of Qualification and Registration at any future time
• to a notation being placed on the public register regarding the complaint and its outcome
• to publication of his name in Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession, on the College's web site and in such other manner as the Registrar deems appropriate
• to placement of the Investigation Committee's written decision and the MOA in the College's Margaret Wilson Library
• that the College would notify those organizations routinely informed of disciplinary matters of the cancellation of the member's certificate.

When the Discipline Committee finds a member guilty of professional misconduct the member's name is routinely published in Professionally Speaking. If a similar matter is disposed of by the Investigation Committee or DR at the investigation stage, and the result is a caution, the name of the member is not published. The College monitors compliance with all agreements reached through DR.