Once someone has served their time in prison, should they be allowed to continue their lives like nothing has happened? Over the month of May this issue has been brought up twice to Montreal citizens. The first was when Michael Giroux, a convicted rapist, moved into an apartment in Milton-Parc adjacent to McGill University. In the 90’s, Giroux stalked and assaulted women between the ages of 23 and 42 and was recently released from prison in the Fall of 2016. The topic was also brought up again when Karla Homolka, a 47 year old who was convicted of rape and murder in 1993, was found to been volunteering at the private Christian elementary school that her children attend here in Montreal. Homolka and her ex husband, Paul Bernardo tortured, raped and killed three teenage girls, one of which was her 15 year old sister.
Although both Giroux and Homolka have served their time, Montreal residence had been apprehensive about them being in these areas. When it comes to Michael Giroux, who is known as the High Park rapist and who allegedly refused psychological treatment when he was in prison, according to an article in the National Post, “moving into an area where young women frequent and live, which is also located near a park, is making everyone feel uneasy.” On May 5th, the McGill Daily announced that the writer of the National Post article stated “I heard from people in the McGill community who had established where [Giroux] was living, and have been informed by the landlord that he is moving out as early as this weekend". Giroux moving out is a large relief for the students and faculty of McGill University. The parents at the Greaves Adventist Academy are not as lucky, since even though they have made multiple complaints, Karla Homolka is still allowed on school grounds. In an interview with The Global News, one mother said that she isn't allowed to enter the school because the administration was upset with her for critiquing their style of teaching, and yet Homolka is able to enter the building on a regular basis.
As for what the schools are doing to protect their students. McGill had sent out an e-mail to their community reminding them to be careful when around Milton-Parc. They were not allowed to name Giroux in their e-mail or mention where exactly he was living, but they hoped that students would be able to read through the lines and figure out why the e-mail was being sent. As for Homolka, Independent.co.uk released an article on June 1st where the spokesperson for the Seventh-day Adventist Church stated “The school board was fully aware of who she is. She is not a regular volunteer, and can never be alone with any children, either in school or churches”. As of right now there does not seem to be any laws about where those that have been convicted of such heinous crimes are allowed to live, though Giroux does have a list of rules he has to follow to stay out of prison for the next two years, including not being able to have any contact with someone under the age of 16 without supervision. Only time will tell if laws will be put into place to protect the public from convicted rapists and murders who have been released.
*As of writing this blog the Seventh Day Adventist Church has issued a statement, that didn't name Homolka, but stated that they will no longer be allowing anyone with a criminal background to volunteer at their schools or church.