More Kwantlen harassment allegations surface

A second individual has stepped forward to allege further claims of harassment by people in the president’s office at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, after she revealed she would testify in a former colleague’s case against the school.

Laura Legg filed the notice of civil claim late Friday with the B.C. Supreme Court, a little more than a month after her former colleague and supervisor Sandra Kuzyk also began legal action against the school.

Legg’s claims highlight a continuation of abuse, even after Kuzyk’s departure from the school in March.

John McKendry was made the university’s president in July 2011. Kuzyk worked as executive assistant to McKendry, while Legg worked under Kuzyk’s supervision as her assistant.

Beginning in 2011, Legg alleged McKendry’s behaviour became erratic, violent, and intimidating toward staff, particularly toward his executive assistant Kuzyk. Legg said the resulting work environment was “hostile and toxic,” and that she feared being left alone with McKendry.

During that time, Legg outlined a number of incidents that reflect much of what Kuzyk has since stated.

McKendry eventually left the school in August 2012. Kuzyk was then fired in March 2013, and began legal proceedings the following month.

After news of the civil claim surfaced, Legg said current president Alan Davis, who began after McKendry’s departure, emailed her to express disappointment at Kuzyk’s claims.

Legg said in the following weeks, she was summoned into Davis’ office repeatedly for meetings in which he would press her for information about what she would testify in connection to Kuzyk’s claims. Legg claims Davis also requested the names of other staff believed to support Kuzyk’s allegations, even after Legg said she no longer wanted to discuss the matter.

Legg said she was rendered ill, and in early August she quit, believing the university’s treatment amounted to a breach of her employment contract.

Legg is seeking general damages, damages for breach of contract, aggravated damages, punitive damages, interest and costs. The claims have not been proven in court.