A parent called Fort Vermilion RCMP on May 20. Their son had bruising and red marks across his thigh.
Police searched the school and seized a machine belt, along with related documentation.
Eva Bueckert, 37, of Cleardale, has been charged with assault with a weapon. She is scheduled to appear in court on August 11. The allegation has not been tested in court.
Three schools, one document
Investigators determined the practice, known as the strap, was being used at three Mennonite schools in the area: Blumenort, Wilson Prairie and Tompkins.
RCMP say the physical discipline was part of the schools' collective constitution, a document that had been given to parents and signed by them.
No one at the other two schools has been charged.
"We want the public to understand that these forms of corporal punishments are criminal offences and will be treated as such," said Cpl. Scott Coleman. Police say they have notified Alberta's Ministry of Education and Childcare to prevent further harm to children.
RCMP also say the educators at those schools were not accredited teachers, but adults supervising children.
The law settled this in 2004
Section 43 of the Criminal Code allows parents and teachers to use force "by way of correction" toward a child in their care, provided the force does not exceed what is reasonable.
In 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld that section in Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada, but narrowed it considerably. Six justices set out limits that have governed the question since.
Implements are out. A paddle or a belt cannot be used. Blows to the head are not permitted. Force cannot be used on a child under two.
And teachers cannot use corporal punishment at all. The court held they may reasonably apply force to remove a child from a classroom or secure compliance with instructions, but not as punishment. Its finding was that substantial societal consensus, expert evidence and Canada's treaty obligations indicate corporal punishment by teachers is unreasonable.
The strap has been outside the defence for 22 years, on both counts independently.
Parental consent isn't a defence
Section 43 protects the person applying the force, within the limits the court set. Consent from a parent is not among those limits.
A document setting out the practice, circulated to parents and signed by them, does not bring it inside the section. Police seized that documentation along with the belt.
There is a further question in the accreditation detail. Section 43 names "every school teacher, parent or person standing in the place of a parent." Whether an unaccredited supervisor at a private school falls within that language has not been settled, though it makes little practical difference here, since teachers cannot use corporal punishment either way.
The strap in Alberta schools
Corporal punishment was standard in Canadian schools for most of the twentieth century. It was phased out through provincial policy and school board decisions well before the courts got involved, and the 2004 ruling closed what remained.
Efforts to remove section 43 from the Criminal Code entirely have continued since. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission called for its repeal in 2015. Private members' bills have been introduced repeatedly, including one that passed the Senate in 2008 before Parliament dissolved. The section remains on the books.
Reporting suspected abuse
In Alberta, reporting suspected child abuse is a legal obligation.
The Child Abuse Helpline is 1-855-443-5722. The Child Intervention Provincial Intake Line, for reporting suspected abuse or neglect, runs 24 hours at 1-800-638-0715. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
The Zebra Child and Youth Advocacy Centre supports children and youth through disclosure, investigation and court, and can be reached at 780-421-2385.
Sources:
Fort Vermilion RCMP news release, August 4, 2026
Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada (Attorney General), 2004 SCC 4
Criminal Code of Canada, section 43
Library of Parliament, "The 'Spanking' Law: Section 43 of the Criminal Code": https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/201635E
Government of Alberta, Report child abuse: https://www.alberta.ca/report-child-abuse
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