Northern Alberta Woman Charged with Assault in School Belt Incident

A parent’s call to Fort Vermilion RCMP has led to an assault-with-a-weapon charge and a wider police finding that the use of a strap for student discipline was a practice at three Mennonite schools in northern Alberta.

RCMP said the parent called on May 20 after their child was struck with a belt at school. Police said the child had bruising and red marks across his thigh.

Parent’s report prompted investigation

The case began with one report from one parent, but police say investigators later determined the strap was being used as a student-discipline practice at Blumenort Mennonite School, Wilson Prairie Mennonite School and Tompkins Mennonite School.

A Cleardale woman has been charged with assault with a weapon in connection with the case. She is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 11.

RCMP have not described the investigation as limited to a disagreement over school rules. They have framed the use of corporal punishment with a strap as a criminal matter.

“We want the public to understand that these forms of corporal punishments are criminal offences and will be treated as such,” Cpl. Scott Coleman said in an RCMP statement quoted by multiple outlets.

Belt and documents seized

Police executed a search warrant at the school after the report and seized a machine belt along with related documentation.

That documentation matters because, according to RCMP, the practice was not treated as informal or isolated by the schools. Police said the use of the strap was outlined in a shared constitution that parents had received and signed.

The RCMP statement puts the constitution at the centre of the broader finding: investigators determined the strap was part of student discipline at all three named schools.

Police have not said that a signed parent document changes their view of the law. Instead, they said corporal punishment with the strap is a criminal offence.

Three schools named by police

The schools identified by investigators are Blumenort Mennonite School, Wilson Prairie Mennonite School and Tompkins Mennonite School.

RCMP said educators at the three schools are not accredited teachers and are considered adults supervising children.

That detail was included by police alongside their description of the discipline practice and the shared constitution. RCMP also said Alberta’s Ministry of Education and Childcare has been notified about the investigation.

“We have made the Alberta Ministry of Education and Childcare aware of this investigation in order to prevent further harm to children,” Coleman said, according to source reporting.

Court date set for August

The accused, described by police as a Cleardale woman, is due in court on Aug. 11.

For now, the public record confirmed by police is narrow but serious: a parent reported that their child had been struck with a belt at school; RCMP said the child had bruising and red marks across his thigh; officers seized a machine belt and documentation; and investigators concluded the strap was a discipline practice at three Mennonite schools.

The case has also put renewed attention on how school discipline is described, documented and understood by parents. According to RCMP, the practice was written into a shared constitution that parents had received and signed. Police, however, have stated plainly that corporal punishment with the strap is a criminal offence.

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