November 18, 2011

Dear

: Claims Against the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children, Childrens Aid Societies, and the Province of Nova Scotia

Re:

This letter is to update you on the status of the abuse claims against the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children, Childrens Aid Societies, and the Province of Nova Scotia. We are all aware of the widespread abuse which many former residents of the Home suffered. Between 20032004 we commenced lawsuits on behalf of approximately 60 victims. Since that time we have been contacted by many more abuse victims. Most of you are wondering what has been happening over the past 9 years. Many of you are wondering why it is taking so long to achieve justice for the wrongs that were committed in the Colored Home. Many of you know people who were compensated by the Province for the wrongs that occurred at the Shelburne Youth Training Centre and are wondering what makes your abuse claims any different than those from Shelburne. Consider the following timelines: Colored Home Shelburne 2003 - Nearly 70 victims come forward stating that 1991 After a former resident reported that he was they were abused at the Colored Home. abused by a former staff of the School, the RCMP begin to investigate the complaint. 2004/05 The Colored Home and the Province require each victim to respond to extensive written questions. 2006 The Colored Home and the Province applied to Court to have the claims dismissed due to limitation periods. They were not successful. 2007 The Colored Home and the Province appealed to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal to have the claims dismissed due to limitation periods. They were again not successful. 1992 The RCMP lays charges against the former staff member. 1993 The former staff member is found guilty of five counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency. 1995 After other former residents come forward, the Province announces that it would investigate the complaints. If the investigation revealed abuse, the Province said that it would put in place a mechanism to provide appropriate compensation to victims.

2008/09 The Colored Home and the Province 1995 A Provincially-funded investigation report submit various abuse victims to extensive and was released. The report identified 89 allegations of invasive discovery examinations. abuse. The Provincially-funded report blamed the Province for not providing sufficient resources to hire enough qualified staff to ensure decent living conditions for school residents 2009 The Colored Home and the Province 1995 The Province agreed to negotiate with applied to Court to have the abuse claims of two lawyers for the victims victims dismissed due to limitation periods. They were successful. 2010 We appealed to the Nova Scotia Court of 1996 The Province agreed to a settlement Appeal to overturn this decision. The Nova Scotia establishing a $33 million compensation fund. Court of Appeal upheld the dismissal of the claims. 2010 We asked for the decision to be reviewed by the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court refused. 2011 The Province asked us to provide them with a settlement proposal. We did this on behalf of all former victims. September 2011 The Province indicates that they are not willing to compensate victims of abuse at the Colored Home.

The Colored Home and Shelburne share many important similarities: Both institutions opened in the 1920s. Both received some funding from the Province. Both had poor living conditions and unqualified staff. Residents of both institutions alleged that they were abused by the staff.

The Colored Home and Shelburne are different in that: The majority of the Shelburne victims were white. The vast majority of the Colored Home victims were black.

The Province treated the claims of the Shelburne victims as follows: After a few Shelburne victims came forward, the Province quickly decided to fund an investigation into the abuse. The investigation revealed that residents were abused. The Province quickly agreed to compensate the victims, approximately 5 years after the complaint was brought with the RCMP.

The Province treated the claims of the Colored Home victims differently: It decided not to fund an investigation. The Province chose not to inquire into the merits of the abuse claims but rather repeatedly applied to the Court to deny the claims on the basis that the victims allegations should have been made sooner. It has been forcing the abuse victims to undergo emotionally painful discovery examinations. Nearly 10 years after the complaints were brought, the Province is continuing to deny justice and compensation to victims.

We continue to actively advance everybodys case. But, given almost 10 years have passed, and the Province continues to deny justice to the victims of abuse, we feel that the Province must be asked the tough questions: Why did they fund an investigation for victims in Shelburne but not for the victims of the Colored Home? Why were staff members charged in Shelburne but not at the Colored Home? What makes the Colored Home abuse victims any different from the Shelburne abuse victims? Why did the Province agree to compensate Shelburne victims 5 years after the complaints were brought while it continues to deny justice to Colored Home victims almost 10 years after the complaints were brought?

While the Province's response to date has been disappointing, we believe in your cause and want you to know that we will continue to advance your claim vigorously. But you can help too. It is time for the Province to answer these questions. We strongly encourage you, your friends, and your families to call the Government leaders and MLAs in your district (or simply choose one) listed on the attached document and demand to know why you are being treated differently. Demand to know from them why they are not funding an investigation and why they are denying you justice. I attach a sample letter for your convenience. Also enclosed are a number of correspondences. The first correspondence is a copy of a letter from Peter McVey, Senior Solicitor for the Minister of Community Services, dated June 30, 2011, the second is a copy of a letter from Wagners dated July 14, 2011, and the third is a copy of a letter from Mr. McVey dated July 21, 2011 in response to our letter of July 14, 2011. These correspondences concern our request for an investigation in to why an alleged pedophile and former employee of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children by the name of Georgie Williams was working at a Day Care in Preston and the Provinces puzzling decision to not act on our request. Also enclosed is a copy of a letter from Catherine Lunn, Senior Solicitor for the Department of Justice, dated November 14, 2011 advising that the Province is not willing to negotiate ANY compensation for settlement in respect to our clients claims as the Provinces position is that it is not responsible for ANY allegations of abuse. If you have questions, or would like help with contacting people from the attached list, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help. There will be a documentary on the radio about the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children. This will be broadcast on the CBC Radio One at 8:30 A.M. (Atlantic Time) on Sunday, November 27, 2011. You may wish to listen to the broadcast and provide feedback to the CBC. We also wish to advise you that VOICES (Victims Of Institutional Child Exploitation Society) is in the process of being formed. This non-profit society will act as a voice for those abused by pedophiles and those who seek to hide information about the abuse.

If you are interested in joining this important group that will provide confidential support and also lobby government and agencies on your behalf, please contact our offices at your earliest convenience. I recommend that you join this support group. Yours truly,

RAYMOND F. WAGNER

RFW/rc
Enclosures

Sample Letter to MLAs *Date *______________, MLA Constituency Name Constituency Office Address Dear MLA: Start by saying one of the following: 1. That you were a resident of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children. 2. That you have commenced an action against the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children, the Province of Nova Scotia, and the Childrens Aid Society in response to physical, sexual, and/or mental abuses. Add that: 1. That you demand to know why you are being treated differently. 2. That you demand to know why an investigation in to the alleged abuses endured by residents of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children has not been funded. 3. That you demand to know why you are being denied justice. Close your letter by thanking the MLA for his/her attention to your requests/concerns. Sincerely,

IMPORTANT CONTACTS Percy Paris - Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs 273 Windsor Junction Road Windsor Junction, Nova Scotia B2T 1G7 Phone: (902) 860-4004 Fax: (902) 860-0197 E-mail: percy@percyparis.ca Ross Landry Minister of Justice 115 MacLean Street New Glasgow, Nova Scotia B2H 4M5 Phone: (902) 752-7677 Fax: (902) 752-7922 E-mail: pictoucentremla@rosslandry.ca Darryl Dexter Premier Office of the Premier PO Box 726 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2T3. Phone: 902-424-6600 Fax: 902-424-7648 Email: premier@gov.ns.ca MLAs Jamie Baillie Cumberland South (PC) 6 McFarlane Street Springhill, Nova Scotia B0M 1X0 Phone: (902) 597-1998 E-mail: jamiebaillie@bellaliant.com Keith Bain Victoria/The Lakes (PC) 1551 Old Route 5 Big Bras d'Or, Nova Scotia B1X 1B5 Phone: (902) 674-0089 Fax: (902) 674-0191 E-mail: keithbainmla@ns.sympatico.ca

Sterling Belliveau Shelburne (NDP) 3441 Highway #3 P.O. Box 595 Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia B0W 1G0 Phone: (902) 637-3200 or (902) 875-9090 Fax: (902) 637-3530 E-mail: mlashelburne@eastlink.ca Pam Birdsall Lunenburg (NDP) 119 Pelham Street P.O. Box 1509 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia B0J 2C0 Phone: (902) 634-9110 Toll Free: 1-877-634-9110 Fax: 634-8489 E-mail: pambirdsallmla@bellaliant.com Jim Boudreau Guysborough/Sheet Harbour (NDP) 11 Telegraph Street P.O. Box 69 Canso, Nova Scotia B0H 1H0 Phone: (902)366-3033 Toll Free: 1-888-465-7575 Fax: 366-3858 E-mail: jimboudreaumla@bellaliant.com Gary Burrill Colchester/Musquodoboit Valley (NDP) 20 Dunrovin Avenue P.O. Box 129 Stewiacke, Nova Scotia B0N 2J0 Phone: (902) 639-2277 Toll Free: 1-877-582-0277 Fax: (902) 639-9776 E-mail: garyburrill@ns.sympatico.ca Karen Casey Colchester North (L) 30 Duke Street Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 2A1 Phone: (902) 893-2180 Fax: (902) 893-3064 E-mail: karencasey@ns.aliantzinc.ca

Zach Churchill Yarmouth (L) 396 Main Street, Suite 100 Yarmouth, Nova Scotia B5A 1E9 Phone: (902) 742-4444 Fax: (902) 742-7391 E-mail: churchzj@gov.ns.ca Keith Colwell Preston (L) Box 1, Comp 4 2345 Highway #7 East Preston, Nova Scotia B2Z 1G6 Phone: (902) 433-1494 Fax: (902) 435-1712 E-mail: colwelkw@gov.ns.ca Vicki Conrad Queens (NDP) 43 Carten Street P.O. Box 430 Liverpool, Nova ScotiaB0T 1K0 Phone: (902) 354-5203 Toll Free: 1-888-354-5203 Fax: (902) 354-5247 E-mail: vconrad@ns.aliantzinc.ca Frank Corbett Cape Breton Centre (NDP) 3397 Plummer Avenue P.O. Box 1 New Waterford, Nova Scotia B1H 1Z1 Phone: 862-9550 Fax: 862-9501 E-mail: frankmla@ns.sympatico.ca Christopher dEntremont Argyle (PC) P.O. Box 94 Tusket, Nova Scotia B0W 3M0 Phone: (902) 648-2020 Fax: (902) 648-2001 E-mail: info@chrisdentremont.com Howard Epstein Halifax Chebucto (NDP) 6009 Quinpool Road, Suite 103 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 5J6 Phone: (902) 425-8521 Fax: (902) 429-6082 E-mail: hepstein@ns.aliantzinc.ca

Bill Estabrooks Timberlea/Prospect (NDP) 1492 St. Margaret's Bay Road, BLT Recreation Centre Lakeside, Nova Scotia B3T 1B3 Phone: (902) 876-2472 Fax: (902) 876-2192 E-mail: billestabrooks@navnet.net Wayne Gaudet Clare (L) RR #1 P.O. Box 106 Church Point, Nova Scotia B0W 1M0 Phone: (902) 769-3131 Fax: (902) 769-2239 E-mail: waynej@ns.aliantzinc.ca Leo Glavine Kings West (L) 780 Cental Avenue Southgate Court P.O. Box 1501 Greenwood, Nova Scotia B0P 1N0 Phone: (902) 765-4083 Fax: (902) 765-4176 E-mail: leoglavinemla@eastlink.ca Gordie Gosse Cape Breton Nova (NDP) 758 Victoria Road Sydney, Nova Scotia B1N 1J6 Phone: (902) 564-9161Fax: (902) 564-9975 E-mail: gordiegosse@ns.aliantzinc.ca Ramona Jennex Kings South (NDP) 8985 Commercial Street, Suite 2 New Minas, Nova Scotia B4N 3E3 Phone: (902) 681-3741 Fax: (902) 681-6261 E-mail: ramonajennexmla@bellaliant.com Becky Kent Cole Harbour/Eastern Passage (NDP) 1490 Main Rd. P.O. Box 152 Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia B3G 1M4 Phone: (902) 465-3180 Fax: (902) 465-3179 Email: kentbj@gov.ns.ca

Manning MacDonald Cape Breton South (L) 253 Newlands Avenue Sydney, Nova Scotia B1S 1Y7 Phone: (902) 539-6032 or (902) 567-1114 Fax: (902) 539-6860 E-mail: manningm@ns.sympatico.ca Maureen MacDonald Halifax Needham (NDP) 3115 Veith Street Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 3G9 Phone: (902) 455-2926 Fax: (902) 455-3929 E-mail: mmacdonald@navnet.net John MacDonell Hants East (NDP) 202 Highway #2, Unit 5 P.O. Box 330 Enfield, NS B2T 1C8 Phone: (902) 883-7308 Phone: 1-888-827-2212 Fax: (902) 883-7627 Email: john.macdonell@ns.sympatico.ca Clarrie MacKinnon Pictou East (NDP) 1905 Main Street P.O. Box 914 Westville, Nova Scotia B0K 2A0 Phone: (902) 396-1853 Fax: (902) 396-1803 E-mail: clarriemla@ns.aliantzinc.ca Geoff MacLellan Glace Bay (L) Peoples Mall 219 Commercial Street, Suite D Glace Bay, Nova Scotia B1A 3B9 Phone: (902) 842-4390 Fax: (902) 842-4389 E-mail: mla@geoffmaclellan.ca

Alfie MacLeod Cape Breton West (PC) 1990 Kings Road Sydney River, Nova Scotia B1L 1C4 Phone: (902) 564-8679 Fax: (902) 564-1204 E-mail: alfiemacleodmla@ns.aliantzinc.ca Allan MacMaster Inverness (PC) 15759 Central Avenue P.O. Box 238 Inverness, Nova Scotia B0E 1N0 Phone: (902) 258-2216 Fax: (902) 258-3231 E-mail: mlamacmaster@bellaliant.com Stephen McNeil Annapolis (L) 142 Commercial Street P.O. Box 1420 Middleton, Nova Scotia Phone: (902) 825-2093 Toll Free: 1-800-317-8533 Fax: 825-6306 E-mail: stephenmcneil@ns.aliantzinc.ca Marilyn More Dartmouth South/Portland Valley (NDP) 135 Portland Street P.O. Box 534 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 3Y8 Phone: (902) 463-6673 Fax: (902) 463-4973 E-mail: marilynmoremla@ns.aliantzinc.ca Jim Morton Kings North (NDP) 401 Main Street P.O. Box 157 Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 3W4 Phone: (902) 678-6880 Fax: (902) 678-6945 E-mail: jimmorton@kingsnorthmla.ca

Eddie Orrell Cape Breton North (PC) 309 Commercial Street, Unit 5 North Sydney, Nova Scotia B2A 1B9 Phone: (902) 794-9445 (902) 794-4847 Fax: (902) 794-1815 E-mail: eddieorrell@bellaliant.com Charlie Parker Pictou West (NDP) 49 Water Street Pictou, Nova Scotia B0K 1H0 Phone: (902) 485-4550 Fax: (902) 485-7088 charlieparkermla@ns.aliantzinc.ca Denise Peterson-Rafuse Chester/St. Margarets (NDP) 213-9977 St. Margaret's Bay Road, RR2 Hubbards, Nova Scotia B0J 1T0 Phone: (902) 857-3378 or 1-877-740-3378 Fax: 857-3386 E-mail: denisepetersmla@bellaliant.com Chuck Porter Hants West (PC) 58 Gerrish Street P.O. Box 3873 Windsor, Nova Scotia B0N 2T0 Phone: (902) 798-5779 Fax: (902) 798-4093 E-mail: chuck@chuckporter.ca Sidney Prest Eastern Shore (NDP) 7907 Hwy #7, Unit 2 P.O. Box 6 Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia B0J 2L0 Phone: (902) 889-2112 Fax: (902) 889-3190 E-mail: sidprest.mla@ns.aliantzinc.ca Leonard Preyra Halifax Citadel/Sable Island (NDP) 989 Young Avenue Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2V9 Phone: (902) 444-3238 Fax: (902) 444-3278 E-mail: preyra@eastlink.ca

Gary Ramey Lunenburg West (NDP) 410 King Street Bridgewater, Nova Scotia B4V 1A9 Phone: (902) 530-8080 Fax: (902) 530-8081 E-mail: gary.ramey.mla@eastlink.ca Michle Raymond Halifax Atlantic (NDP) 47 Williams Lake Rd Halifax, Nova Scotia B3P 1S9 Phone: (902) 477-4100 Fax: (902) 477-4810 E-mail: mhraymondmla@eastlink.ca Kelly Regan Bedford/Birch Cove (L) Suite 555, 1550 Bedford Highway Bedford, Nova Scotia B4A 1E6 Phone: 407-3777 Fax: 407-3779 E-mail: kelly@kellyregan.ca Michel Samson Richmond (L) 2nd Floor, Richmond Industrial Mall P.O. Box 57 Louisdale, Nova Scotia B0E 1V0 Phone: (902) 345-0778 Fax: (902) 345-0779 E-mail: michelsamson@ns.sympatico.ca Brian Skabar Cumberland North (NDP) 30 1/2 Church Street Amherst, Nova Scotia B4H 3A8 Phone: (902) 667-9812 or (902) 694-9448 Fax: (902) 667-9811 E-mail: office@brianskabarmla.ca Maurice Smith Antigonish (NDP) 275 Main Street, Suite 102 Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2C3 Phone: (902) 863-0444 Fax: (902) 863-0218 E-mail: mauricesmithmla@bellaliant.com

Graham Steele Halifax Fairview (NDP) 7105 Chebucto Road, Suite 101 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3L 4W8 Phone: (902) 453-5556 Fax: (902) 453-4566 E-mail: graham@grahamsteele.ca Harold (Junior) Theriault Digby/Annapolis (L) 310 Highway #303 - Conway P.O. Box 1038 Digby, Nova Scotia B0V 1A0 Phone: (902) 245-2991 Fax: (902) 245-6853 E-mail: junior@ns.aliantzinc.ca Diana Whalen Halifax Clayton Park (L) Unit 303, 287 Lacewood Drive Halifax, Nova Scotia B3M 3Y7 Phone: (902) 443-8318 Fax: (902) 445-9287 E-mail: whalendc@gov.ns.ca Mat Whynott Hammonds Plains/Upper Sackville (NDP) 1651 Sackville Drive Middle Sackville, Nova Scotia B4E 3A9 Phone: (902) 864-5310 Fax: (902) 864-8681 E-mail: mat.mla@ns.sympatico.ca David Wilson Sackville/Cobequid (NDP) Suite 105, 51 Cobequid Road Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia B4C 2N1 Phone: (902) 864-0396 Fax: (902) 864-8409 E-mail: dave@davidawilsonmla.ca Andrew Younger Dartmouth East (L) Suite 600, 73 Tacoma Drive Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2W 3Y6 Phone: (902) 406-4420 Fax: (902) 406-4421 E-mail: info@andrewyounger.ca

Lenore Zann Truro/Bible Hill (NDP) Suite 212, 35 Commercial Street Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 3H9 Phone: (902) 897-9266 Fax: 897-1841 E-mail: lenorezannmla@bellaliant.com Trevor Zinck Dartmouth North (Ind) Suite 3, 102 Albro Lake Road Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3A 3Y6 Phone: (902) 404-8413 or (902) 404-8414 Fax: (902) 404-8415 E-mail: tzinck@ns.aliantzinc.ca