Student Ombudsman
On August 28, 2023, a new procedure for filing and processing complaints in educational settings went into effect. The procedure is the same in all public schools, vocational training and adult education centres, private schools, and homeschool.
The National Student Ombudsman’s website contains a detailed complaint procedure.
Please note: EPCA is not the National Student Ombudsman.
Filing a Complaint
Step 1
To file a complaint, you must first contact the person directly concerned or his or her immediate superior.
You can make a verbal complaint, but it’s best to put it in writing. This will enable you to keep a record of the exchanges and facilitate the calculation of processing times.
The person receiving the complaint will have 10 working days to respond.
Step 2
If you are not satisfied with the way your complaint has been handled, or if the 10-working-day time limit has passed, you must contact the person in charge of handling complaints at the school board.
This can be done verbally. It is recommended that you keep a written record of your complaint.
The complaint will be processed within 15 working days.
Step 3
If you are still not satisfied with the way your complaint has been handled, or if the 15-working-day deadline has passed, you should contact the regional Student Ombudsman in your area. The ombudsman will assist you in formulating your complaint in writing.
The Regional Student Ombudsman will have 20 working days to review your complaint. He or she will make recommendations to the school board.
The National Ombudsman will have 5 working days to inform the Regional Ombudsman of his or her intention to review the complaint. If he decides to review the complaint, he will have 10 working days to complete his review and substitute his findings or recommendations for those of the Regional Student Ombudsman.
The Regional Student Ombudsman will inform the complainant and the School Board of the findings and recommendations.
The school board will have 10 working days to inform the complainant and the Regional Student Ombudsman of the action it intends to take and, if applicable, the reasons for refusing to take action.
Click here for more information on the National Student Ombudsman website.
Reports of sexual violence can be made directly to the Regional Student Ombudsman. These complaints will be handled as a matter of urgency.
Click here to consult the procedure.
Violence of a sexual nature is: “The concept of sexual violence refers to any form of violence committed through sexual practices or by targeting sexuality, including sexual assault. It also refers to any other misconduct, including that relating to sexual and gender diversity, in such forms as unwanted direct or indirect gestures, comments, behaviours or attitudes with sexual connotations, including by a technological means.” For further information about acts of sexual violence, see the page on the forms of violence.