Former director of Ontario boys' summer camp denies grooming, sexual assault allegations

WARNING: This article contains graphic content and may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone affected by it. 

The longtime director of an Ontario boys' camp is denying all sexual misconduct allegations included in lawsuits filed earlier this year by a former student camper and a former staff member.

The statements of defence, which were first reported by the Toronto Star, respond to two separate lawsuits accusing the former director of Kilcoo Camp near Minden, Ont., of grooming, manipulation and sexual assault against a preteen student camper in the early 1990s and a young adult staff member beginning in the 2000s.

Lawyers for David Latimer, 61, filed statements of defence at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Bracebridge, Ont., in October, saying he treated both plaintiffs like any other student.

The lawsuits, filed on behalf of plaintiffs identified as J. Doe #1 and J. Doe #2 in July of this year, claimed a minimum of $5.5 million in damages from Latimer and Kilcoo Camp, which was accused of failing to protect the two plaintiffs.

Latimer was director of the camp from 1985 until he stepped down earlier this year. The camp, located approximately 180 kilometres northeast of Toronto on the shores of Gull Lake, operates a private summer camp for boys between the ages of 8 and 16, and outdoor educational programs for students throughout the year. 

Lawyers for Kilcoo Camp, which is also named in the lawsuits, filed statements of defence of its own, denying any knowledge of assault or inappropriate relationships between Latimer and the plaintiffs.

The first statement of claim, filed by a Toronto resident born in 1983 whose gender was not specified, stated J. Doe #1 attended a week-long outdoor education program at Kilcoo Camp two years in a row between 1990 and 1993.

During that time, Latimer "developed a close relationship" with them, giving them a special nickname and buying them gifts, the claim alleged. Toward the end of the first trip, according to the claim, Latimer drove J. Doe #1 on a golf cart across the campground to a nearby house on the lake, where he allegedly sexually assaulted them in a garage.

In his statement of defence, Latimer said J. Doe #1's allegations of sexual assault and battery "come as a complete shock."  

"Mr. Latimer denies that such any inappropriate interaction happened and expressly denies any allegations of sexual assault and battery," the document says.

Latimer's statement says he met J. Doe #1 in the 1990s when they attended camp with their mother, sister and their sister's class at Horizon Alternative Senior School. Latimer remembered J. Doe #1 as a "friendly kid" and got along well with their family, the statement of defence says.

"Mr. Latimer treated J. Doe #1 as he would have any student. This meant that J. Doe #1 was given a nickname ... and a signed painter hat with this nickname on it. Like many other students, J. Doe #1 learned a 'special handshake' and was encouraged to stay connected with camp staff through letter correspondence — with their parents' permission," the document says.

The statement of defence says these were "standard parts of the program" and this was the "extent of Mr. Latimer's interaction with J. Doe #1 approximately three decades ago."