Robert Land Academy, Bankruptcy

Robert Land Academy, a private, military-style boarding school for boys located near Niagara Falls, Ontario, filed an assignment in bankruptcy on June 27, facing $135 million in contingent litigation claims brought by former students in connection with decades of alleged abuse at the school.

Robert Land Academy was founded in 1978 as Canada’s only military-style private boarding school for boys. Just prior to the bankruptcy, the academy’s board chair was Tim Hudak, former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party and former CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association.

Robert Land Academy cited a 44% decline in enrolment, a significant drop in international student numbers, increased operating costs and the COVID-19 pandemic as the reasons behind its closure. However, the academy is reportedly facing nearly a dozen multi-million-dollar lawsuits over alleged abuse.

Deloitte is the bankruptcy trustee.