A Manitoba teacher sentenced to six months in jail for sexually touching a student under 16 continued to hold valid teaching credentials for years while his case went through the appeals process.
The man was convicted and sentenced in October 2013, receiving three years of probation on top of his jail time.
However, it was not until April 2017 that Manitoba revoked his teaching certificate.
He was able to remain on the roster of certified educators until well after he had served his sentence.
Manitoba government says final decisions on teaching certificates often follow the conclusion of all legal proceedings, including any appeal.
The convicted teacher launched his appeal in 2013, but the hearing did not take place until early 2016 and was eventually dismissed.
During the appeals process, teachers may seek work in private schools or other child-focused settings, such as sports organizations, which often have less oversight.
Gaps in information-sharing and screening practices can let a known offender slip through.
Manitoba has since introduced legislative changes to strengthen transparency and protect students, including a public online registry of kindergarten to Grade 12 educators and the appointment of an independent education commissioner to handle misconduct complaints.
