STATUTORY DECLARATION

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PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA )
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In the matter of John Fnrlong and Immaculata School

I, Ruby Helen Adams of 1015 Centre St., Lake Babine First Nation, HEREBY MAKE OATH
AND SAY AS FOLLOWS, that:
1.
I was born on May 18, 1958 at Bums Lake Hospital and attended Immaculata School from
grade three to grade seven, which was approximately from 1967 to 1971;
2.
I remember John Furlong. It was between grades five to seven. He used to be a PE teacher
and if they don't listen, he hits them with a ball real hard. I witnessed this on several occasions
while he was my phys ed teacher. I was not one of the children he hit, but I was afraid of him. I
. stood away far from him in phys ed. Outside ofphys ed I avoided him because I did not want to get
hit;
3.
We were really abused at Immaculata. There was a strap made from a fire hose. It was
really thick. Just being with other children who get in trouble meant I too got the strap. The Sisters
administered the strap. Sometimes even sitting in the washroom Mrs. O'Sullivan would come in
with the ruler and go underneath the doors with the metre stick and hit us hard on the legs.
Sometimes at recess we hid in the boiler room so no one would abuse us. There was no one to
defend us. Most parents were devout Catholics and were too afraid to say anything. Mostly the
staff at Immaculata were mean to us. I don't know how we took it;
4.
I believe I have low self-esteem. Sometimes I do not feel good about myself. I believe that
watching others being abused; being strapped myself and being afraid of being hit; having to hide
because we were afraid all contributed to my low self-esteem. Most of us who survived
Immaculata turned to drinking and tried to block those memories;

5.
Watching John Furlong on TV made me mad, the way he acted like he was an important
person. But what he did to the kids was wrong. I didn't look at it because I was so angry.

SWORN TO BEFORE ME at
Bums Lake, British Columbia
this -L-da of
,2012

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Ru y

elen Adams

STATUTORY DECLARATION - PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

In the matter of John Furlong and Immaculata School

STATUTORY DECLARATION
PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Warren Chapman
Barrister & Solicitor
343 Highway 16
Box 258
Burns Lake, B.C.
VOJ lEO
Tel: (250) 692 - 3339
Fax: (250) 692 - 3342
wc/5609