No charges after JK student reports sexual assault on school bus

Skahota Meawasige says she is seeking justice for her little girl as the North Bay Police Service has declined to charge a school bus driver after Meawasige's four-year-old daughter reported being the victim of a sexual assault on her first-ever day of school.

Equally troubling, she says, is the Alouette Bus Lines driver in question will likely resume his duties.

"I am filled with despair, disappointment, and anger. The system is flawed. Predators are protected over the innocence of our children. Those who have sworn to take care of our children have let my daughter down. I am broken. I am helpless. All I can do is protect my daughter and spread this awareness of what happened and how you all can protect your children," Meawasige posted to various social media pages on Monday.

Since the girl's birthday fell on the day they went to the police, Meawasige notes the incident occurred while her daughter was still three years old. "This is an incredibly scary and sad world and I’m devastated that our children are voiceless."

Meawasige tells BayToday the transportation arrangements for her daughter changed the week before school started so she drove her to Alliance and advised the school she would pick her up until further notice. Except, when she arrived to pick up her daughter on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 3:05 p.m. from her school, she says she was made aware her daughter had been put on a bus.

"I was just told to stay put until it was figured out. So I did. I asked for updates as time went on and was told that they found her, on bus 22 and that they were in contact with Alouette. I asked if there was somewhere I could pick her up, a transfer or something. I was told that Alouette advised the bus driver to loop her back to the school before finishing his route. So I waited at the school as per their instruction. My daughter did not arrive back at school until 5:20 p.m."

Meawasige left for 10 minutes to collect her son from daycare and the school's principal waited for the young girl.

"While I was gone my daughter arrived, I was told she was alone. She seemed off right away, I could tell something was not right. It was on September 7th that she disclosed the bus driver had continued to hug her and touch her thighs, stomach, and shoulders. I dropped her off to my mom in the morning and went to her school on the morning of the 8th where I had a meeting with the principal to share my findings and advise I was going to the police station. I then attended the police station and had our first interview a the CYAC that afternoon.

"Friday night [Sept. 8] she disclosed very intimate and disturbing details of what else had happened on the bus that day. I contacted the police again and a second interview was needed, which we were able to do the day after on Saturday [Sept. 9]. I then chased them for almost two months for answers all for them to tell me no charges would be laid."

The driver "did get suspended right away as far as I’m aware but I was told if there were no charges pressed he would be able to get his job back," she shares. "The police put her through several interviews where she had to recount the details of the assault. At one point she was brought out of the interview room to me and she ran up to me, squeezed me so tight and told me, “Mom, I am scared to tell them everything. It is too hard for me,” but she did. She mustered up the courage to tell her story, to use her voice. She even disclosed there may have been other children involved."

"The North Bay Police Service is aware of information circulating on social media regarding an investigation conducted by the North Bay Police Service stemming from a report received in September 2023," NBPS responded. "As this investigation involves a minor, we are limited in what information we can release. The North Bay Police Service has conducted an investigation into the allegations that were reported to us. As a result of that investigation, no criminal charges were laid. We cannot comment further on this incident."

"I definitely want the investigation reviewed and looked into further, hopefully, charges laid. It’s all incredibly disappointing," says the mother, who adds a referral has been sent for a children’s mental health worker through the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre. "I am willing to pursue this as far as far as I possibly can. Criminal charges need to be laid, this is just so awful."

In her social media post, Meawasige expresses how difficult the ordeal has been on her daughter and her whole family. 

"Truly, it is a parent's worst nightmare ... My daughter was violated. A piece of her soul was stolen that day. She was traumatized. The first few weeks after this sexual assault took place, she suffered from extreme night terrors. She would scream out at the top of her lungs for help and for her mom. She would scream, “Get off of me,” “Stop touching me,” “Mama help me,” and would wake up in tears, gasping for air. She has suffered from UTIs (urinary tract infections) and extreme physical discomfort."

On Friday, Nov. 3, Meawasige received a call from NBPS advising it would not press charges as the likelihood of receiving a guilty verdict if brought to trial is low, due to her age. She has since filed a complaint with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director.

"This means that the predator who traumatized my daughter and our family gets to walk freely on the streets and is welcome to put more of our children in danger. This means that my daughter was made to recount the details on more than one occasion for nothing. This means that my daughter's voice did not matter."

The concerned mother says in her post her attempts to get answers about the school bus company's role in the incident have been met with indifference. BayToday reached out to Alouette Bus Lines by email and Messenger but received no response.

"Please, hug your kids. Ask them how their day was. If something feels off, document it. Have conversations ... There are not cameras on all buses but there should be. And this is not the first time in this city that a predator had the role of a school bus driver."