By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Nancy Beattie, the former campus director of Champlain College Lennoxville, has filed a more than $2 million lawsuit against Champlain Regional College, its leadership, and other entities, alleging wrongful dismissal and damage to her reputation. The lawsuit, filed Oct. 23, 2024, follows her suspension in January 2024 and subsequent termination. Champlain College has acknowledged the lawsuit and confirmed its intent to contest the claims in court. Beattie claims in the suit that her dismissal was the result of systemic governance issues, and she is seeking financial compensation for the damage to her career, reputation, and mental health.
The defendants in the suit include Champlain interim director general Yves Rainville, HR director Line Larivière, MNP Ltd., a consultancy hired to address workplace issues, Claude Riverin, an MNP associate, and the Quebec Ministry of Higher Education. Beattie accuses them of terminating her employment under false pretences and mishandling a workplace harassment investigation to create a pretext for her dismissal. The lawsuit seeks to expose alleged procedural abuses and hold the defendants accountable for what Beattie describes as a wrongful termination.
Deep roots in the community
According to the lawsuit, Nancy Beattie’s connection to Champlain College Lennoxville and the Eastern Townships community runs deep. A native of Sherbrooke, Beattie grew up in the region, attending elementary and high school in Lennoxville before enrolling at Champlain College as a student. She later earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Carleton University, returning to her home region to work in education. Before joining Champlain College, Beattie served as a teacher and administrator with the Eastern Townships School Board, where she earned a reputation for leadership and dedication.
In 2009, Beattie began her career at Champlain College Lennoxville as Dean of Student Services. Her role included oversight of student programming and services, and she quickly gained respect within the college community. In 2017, she was appointed campus director, a role she held until her dismissal. Throughout her tenure, Beattie was recognized for her commitment to fostering a collaborative environment and engaging with community initiatives. However, her leadership coincided with increasing administrative challenges, including faculty dissatisfaction and governance issues that would ultimately lead to her suspension.
A breakdown of the $2 million lawsuit
Beattie’s lawsuit seeks financial compensation on multiple grounds:
- $456,000 in compensation, equivalent to three year’s salary to address difficulties related to finding new employment.
- $43,000 in compensation for vacation pay owed.
- $70,000 for legal fees.
- $350,000 in compensatory damages.
- $1.3 million for wrongful dismissal ($400,000 from Champlain College; $400,000 from the Ministry of Higher Education; $400,000 from MNP consultancy; $50,000 from Yves Rainville; $25,000 from Line Larivière; $25,000 from Claude Riverin).
Allegations of workplace toxicity and harassment
The events leading to Beattie’s dismissal began in 2021 when Jennifer Coley-Gomez, then Dean of Student Affairs, filed a complaint accusing Beattie of psychological harassment. Coley-Gomez claimed that Beattie’s management style created a toxic workplace, which was detrimental to her mental health. While an external investigation dismissed these allegations, Coley-Gomez escalated the matter to Quebec’s Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) opening a file with the Tribunal administratif du travail.
On June 14, 2024, Coley-Gomez desisted in her case alleging psychological harassment against the college and Nancy Beattie. The tribunal, however, ruled in her favour on July 19 in a related case, determining a workplace-related psychological injury had occurred.
The teachers’ union at Champlain Lennoxville also voiced concerns about governance and workplace climate. In October 2023, the union submitted a motion of non-confidence in Beattie’s leadership, accusing her of failing to address systemic problems and citing a breakdown in trust between faculty and the administration. These complaints culminated in Beattie’s suspension in January 2024, a decision she claims was baseless.
Procedural irregularities and governance failures
Beattie’s lawsuit details multiple procedural irregularities surrounding her dismissal. She alleges that the meeting where her suspension was decided was misrepresented as a meeting to formulate a response to the union’s motion of non-confidence. In reality, the meeting focused on her suspension. Beattie claims that key stakeholders were excluded from the decision-making process and that she was denied access to documents that could have supported her case.
Central to Beattie’s claims is the role of MNP Ltd., the consultancy hired by the Ministry of Higher Education to investigate governance issues at the college. Beattie alleges that MNP conducted a biased investigation by acting beyond the role of an observer, and failing to provide promised feedback and withholding findings. The lawsuit also criticizes interim director general Yves Rainville for allegedly manipulating the proceedings to ensure her removal.
The lawsuit places some blame on the Ministry of Higher Education, accusing it of failing to intervene despite being aware of ongoing governance issues. Beattie contends that the ministry’s reliance on MNP’s flawed investigations allowed procedural abuses to go unchecked, contributing to her wrongful dismissal.
Media fallout
Beattie’s damage to reputation claims focus on the widespread media coverage of the allegations against her. Reports from local, national, and international outlets described her as the central figure in a toxic workplace scandal. Beattie alleges that these reports were based on incomplete information, creating a narrative that unfairly vilified her. She argues that the college’s administration exacerbated the situation by refusing to address inaccuracies or publicly defend her.
According to the suit, On Oct. 26, 2023 interim DG Rainville forwarded a message to Beattie and all staff not to respond to media requests, saying a communications firm had been hired.
The fallout from this media coverage extended beyond her professional life, with Beattie describing how community members distanced themselves from her and former colleagues avoided her in public.
Personal and professional impact
The impact of Beattie’s dismissal on her personal life is a significant aspect of the lawsuit. Once a respected community leader, she now finds herself ostracized. Friends and colleagues avoid her in public, and she has withdrawn from social activities to escape the scrutiny. Her children have also been affected, with classmates discussing the allegations at school and teachers questioning them about their mother’s situation. The lawsuit describes how these experiences have eroded Beattie’s sense of belonging and caused lasting emotional distress.
Professionally, Beattie’s career in education has been effectively derailed. In the suit she argues that the allegations and subsequent media coverage have posed significant challenges for her to secure employment in her field.
A fight for accountability
As the lawsuit proceeds, it is expected to shed light on broader governance issues within Champlain College Lennoxville and Quebec’s higher education system. Beattie’s case raises questions about how public institutions handle allegations of misconduct, balance transparency with confidentiality, and address systemic workplace challenges. Champlain College, Rainville, Larivière, MNP Ltd., and the Ministry of Higher Education have all confirmed their intent to contest Beattie’s claims.
Efforts to contact Beattie and her legal team were unsuccessful before this article went to press.
Tina Gjertsen, interim communications counsellor for Champlain College Lennoxville sent the following response to The Record’s request for comment:
Since this is a legal proceeding, the College will not answer any questions or make any comments on the subject.
