By Thulasi Srikanthan
The Vancouver Sun
November 11, 2008
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=b4b9679e-b5c4-4d38-8058-a85d8aaacf16
OTTAWA - A Carleton University instructor is the second woman to come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Rev. Allen Tysick, who was once described by Time magazine as one of Canada's heroes.
Collett Tracey, 45, filed a $2.1-million claim Tuesday against Tysick - an Ottawa native - and the United Church of Canada, alleging she was sexually abused and exploited in her teenage years when she was part of a youth group Tysick led.
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| A file picture of Reverend Allen Tysick. |
None of the claims has been tested in court. "Collett states that Tysick used her position as her pastor, emotional, religious and spiritual adviser and mentor to facilitate his continued sexual exploitation of her," the statement of claim alleges. "Ultimately, Tysick was able to fully indoctrinate Collett with a potent mixture of religious and sexual dogma, such that he was able to complete control and manipulate her emotions, religiousity, spirituality and behaviour for his own personal sexual gratification."
Reached in Victoria, B.C., where he runs a non-profit agency helping street people, Tysick said he had just received the claim and had nothing to say.
Tracey's allegations date back to the late 1970s when she, at the age of 15, began attending Ottawa's Woodroffe United Church, where she became an active member.
The claim against Tysick is for $1.5 million. The United Church of Canada is also named, with Tracey claiming damages of $600,000.
None of the allegations against the church has been proven.
In 2007, another woman, Jean Perkins, who was counselled by Tysick, named him and the United Church of Canada in a $1-million civil suit alleging she was sexually abused by Tysick in the early 1990s. Both women are represented by the same firm, Nelligan O'Brien Payne.
At the time a Victoria newspaper contacted Tysick, and he denied the allegations.
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