Achi news desk-
Calgary police are hoping any other potential victims will come forward after a former Calgary teacher was charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Mario Joseph Denis Arsenault, 54, of Levis, Que., was charged with two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of sexual assault on Monday.
“Our concern is that there are other victims out there who may be facing some difficult challenges, as a result of being victimized by someone like this,” said Staff Sgt. Tom Hanson, with the Calgary Police Service (CPS) sexual assault investigation unit said in an interview Tuesday.
“So we hope that once they hear about this information coming out, they will build up some courage and feel confident to report it to the police.”
Police said the victim, now an adult, came forward in 2023, reporting several incidents of sexual assault between 2000 and 2003 when a teacher began an inappropriate relationship with her.
“It takes a lot of courage,” Hanson said.
“I think they got some help and some encouragement for themselves, and it was reinforced to them then – or throughout their treatment – that they were not the instigator in all this, that they were the really a victim.”
Arsenault worked at Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys School between 2000 and 2017, FrancoSud, Calgary’s Francophone school board, confirmed in a statement Monday.
He met with CPS investigators in Montreal, police said, and was subsequently charged. Police confirmed that Arsenault is still employed as a teacher in Montreal.
At this stage in the investigation, the police have not received any further information about the matter, but they are encouraging any other victims to come forward.
“Often, when one victim comes forward, other victims will find the courage to come forward themselves and report how they have been victimized themselves,” said Staff Sgt. Tom Hanson, with the Calgary Police Service’s sexual assault investigation unit, said Tuesday.
The police believe that Arsenault used his position of trust to befriend the victim and develop a sexual relationship with her.
“Several of the assaults are believed to have occurred in his vehicle and at his home,” CPS said in a news release Monday.
Hanson said it can be difficult for police to find evidence in historical cases, but often more leads are uncovered throughout the investigation.
“We have the greatest difficulty in proving a case when it is the word of the victim against the word of the offender, but often other evidence comes forward, there may be letters or emails, or other forms of communication that have taken place confirming the victim’s side of the story,” he said.
Arsenault is scheduled to appear in court on June 6.
Anyone with information about this incident should contact police at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously via Tackle the Tackle.
“In Canada, there is no time limit on reporting a sexual assault. “Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a sexual assault is encouraged to report it, even if many years have passed since the incident,” police said.
