Tribunal finds Champlain College responsible for psychological harassment of Quebec City teacher

A Quebec teachers' union says it fears for the health and safety of staff at Champlain Regional College after an arbitration tribunal found a presence of psychological harassment and management issues at its Quebec City campus.

In a 35-page ruling submitted to CBC News, Quebec's arbitration tribunal ruled that Champlain Regional College failed to prevent the psychological harassment of a long-time teacher at its St. Lawrence campus.

The plaintiff in the case, Lisa Birch, has claims dating back to 2022. She was investigated after allegations surfaced in the college accusing her of denigrating campus director Edward Berryman.

The tribunal found no direct evidence of Birch being involved in a smear campaign against Berryman — instead concluding that an investigation into Birch was done "without any precise allegation" and contributed to psychological harm.

"The evidence doesn't allow us to understand why and how, in the absence of a formal complaint, Mrs. Birch found herself being accused of harassment," read the ruling.

During the investigation, the tribunal found that Birch was isolated at work and didn't know what she was being accused of, or by whom.

Yves de Repentigny, a vice-president of the Fédération nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Québec, says this case is part of a pattern.

Last year, CBC News learned the campus director for Champlain College Lennoxville, in Quebec's Eastern Townships, was at the centre of a slew of psychological harassment and conflict-of-interest allegations from current and former senior employees.

That director, Nancy Beattie, has been suspended with pay since Jan. 10, following a motion of non-confidence from the college's teachers' union.

An external investigation into the head of Champlain College Lennoxville found three years ago that Beattie had engaged in inappropriate behaviour and lacked adequate management skills.

De Repentigny says there's a serious management problem at the network of regional colleges.

"There's some cleanup to be done, some organizational changes to be done," said de Repentigny. "Something has to be done."

He said Birch did not want to speak to the media.

She testified at the tribunal that she felt cut off from her co-workers, ate lunch at her desk and was not able to communicate with some co-workers during the period in which she was investigated.

"You know you don't dare come out of your office because you don't know who you're going to meet," said de Repentigny. "So you feel like you're the culprit."

He says the investigation took a toll on Birch, who is still an employee and has been working at the school for 35 years.

"Psychologically speaking, she was always in doubt," he said. "The decision makes it clear she hasn't done anything wrong."

Between March and December 2022, Birch filed three grievances accusing the employer of not providing a healthy work environment.

The union says Birch was a victim of psychological harassment, and that the employer failed to provide a safe workplace.

Champlain College argued "a reasonable person in the same situation would have reacted differently," but the tribunal disagreed.

"The employer claims that Ms. Birch played the victim and she had a paranoid personality," read the tribunal's report. "A reasonable person in a similar situation would no doubt have acted in the same way."

The report calls on "appropriate remedial measures" and for the arbitration cost to be taken on by the employer.

In a written statement provided by a public relations firm, Champlain Regional College said it is "dedicated to fostering the achievement of our students and nurturing the personal and professional growth of all individuals."

It says the college is currently evaluating its options and will not be commenting further.