McGill University says authorities at the school are conducting a review after students raised concerns about a convicted murderer on parole studying in the faculty of law until recently.
Provost Angela Campbell addressed the matter Friday following a CBC report in which students suggested they should have been informed about their classmate’s criminal history, which dates back to the 1980s.
“The matter is being carefully reviewed by the appropriate authorities at the University,” Campbell wrote in a message to students. “We have also reached out to the relevant government bodies that are responsible for supervising people on conditional release. A fair process that balances the rights and interests of everyone involved is currently underway.”
The man has not been on campus since early October, the school said. Now in his 60s, he was convicted of murder and attempted murder after sexually assaulting and strangling two women — killing one and leaving one severely disabled — in separate incidents in British Columbia in 1984. He was highly intoxicated at the time.
The man was granted day parole in 2025 and has been attending classes at McGill since August, according to the CBC report.
In her letter, Campbell said the university took “measured, decisive action” earlier this month “when information came to our attention … that could compromise a safe learning environment and student wellbeing.”
She added that students have the right to learn in a safe, respectful environment that supports their success and that “protecting that environment remains our top priority.”
But the university is also committed to dignity and second chances, Campbell said.
“Our university believes in rehabilitation and in the power of education to transform lives,” she wrote. “A past conviction does not on its own bar anyone from studying here. That commitment must always be balanced against our duty of care to the whole community.”
The provost also said that she understands the community’s concerns about not being told about the situation sooner, but pointed out that privacy laws limit what can be disclosed about students.
“We know this can be frustrating, but these protections apply to every member of our community,” Campbell wrote, adding that the school is reviewing how to identify and respond to such situations moving forward.
In a message to law students specifically, the dean of the faculty, Tina Piper, reiterated that prompt action was taken when the school became aware of the situation. She said she’s working with relevant offices “to ensure we act in a way that is fair and considered.”
Like Campbell, Piper said her highest priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.
“I also ask us to meet this moment as a community with the values of rigour and respect that define us,” Piper said, pointing out that she can’t comment on a person’s circumstances, status, or history outside of the appropriate channels as dean.
Piper asked students to “exercise similar restraint in speculating and sharing personal information about people involved.”
“This situation is not unlike one you may encounter in your future legal career and now is a good time to practise how you want to be in the world,” Piper said. “The way we talk about this matters to the kind of law school and profession we want to be.”
With files from The Canadian Press.