Former Ont. art teacher, 88, sentenced to over 5 years in prison for 1980s sexual assaults

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WARNING: This story references sexual assault and thoughts of suicide. Help line information appears at the bottom. 

A former elementary school teacher in Burlington and Hamilton has been sentenced to over five years in prison for sexually assaulting seven male students in the 1980s.

Barbara Baxter, 88, was found guilty by a jury in February on seven counts of sexual assault and acts of gross indecency.

Justice Kendra Coats read her sentencing decision during an Ontario Superior Court of Justice hearing in Milton on Jan. 13.

Baxter was first reported to law enforcement in June 2022, when Halton police said a man told officers he was sexually abused at Pineland Public School in Burlington in the early 1980s when he was in Grade 8.

Baxter would have been in her 40s at the time and the students were in their early teens.

In February 2023, Halton police said a second man reported similar abuse.

Police said three more men also told officers about incidents between 1983 and 1987 at the school and at Baxter’s residence, also in Burlington.

The identities of the former students are protected under a publication ban. 

During Baxter's sentencing, the court heard victim impact statements in which one of the former students said he did not feel safe at school or home and turned to drugs to self-medicate when he was 13 years old.

He also described feeling as if his voice had been stolen from him by those in a unique position of authority over children. He said he stopped talking about what was happening to him because no one believed him.

Baxter worked for the Halton District School Board in the 1980s. (Halton District School Board)

Another one of Baxter’s victims said the emotional impact has carried on through decades.

He said the stress and trauma have impacted his health, he suffers from a lack of sleep and he gets nightmares about what occurred. He also said he feels anger and disgust at how he was robbed of his childhood and innocence.

Victim describes impact as ‘mental torture’

Another victim described the impact of Baxter's abuse as "mental torture."

He said that for over 40 years, he has suffered from unconscious post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with anxiety and depression, adding that Baxter’s choices have left him with long-term financial insecurity and emotional trauma.

The events have also given him suicidal thoughts, he said, with extreme fear and trauma impacting his ability to live life, and manage and form healthy relationships.

During the sentencing hearing, defence lawyer Carson Hurley had argued that Baxter's advanced age and the passage of time since the offences are relevant, given these are sexual assaults committed decades ago.

Hurley said Baxter has no prior criminal record, suggesting the conduct was isolated, and she has strong family support, indicating stability and potential for rehabilitation.

Baxter has significant age-related health issues, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure, with her arthritis causing severe physical deterioration, leaving her wheelchair-bound, the court heard.

Hurley argued that incarceration at Baxter’s age would likely exacerbate her health problems and cause considerable discomfort. He also noted collateral consequences arising from Baxter's personal circumstances — her husband is elderly, and the couple rely on one another for daily care.

Sexual abuse leaves lasting impacts, says Crown

But Kelli Frew, for the Crown, emphasized that the court must take into account the significant harm that sexual abuse has on child victims.

Frew argued the aggravating circumstances in this case were significant, given Baxter was the victims' teacher who was occupying a position of trust and authority over the children in her care.

According to Frew, the substantial age difference between Baxter and the child victims further exacerbates the misconduct, highlighting their vulnerability.

Frew said the victim impact statements demonstrate the profound and lasting effects of the offences, emphasizing the importance of denunciation and deterrence in sentencing.

Before working at Halton District School Board, Baxter was at Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB).

A HWDSB spokesperson told CBC Hamilton she worked for the former Hamilton Board of Education from 1961 to 1968.

For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, here's where to look for help: