PEI gender advocate and school counsellor charged with sexually assaulting minor

By Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, True North Wire

A woman who was a prominent gender identity advocate and school counsellor has been charged by the PEI RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit with several serious sexual and other offences involving a minor.

The charges were filed at the provincial court in Charlottetown, and include sexual assault, sexual interference, and invitation to sexual touching, which were revealed through an investigation initiated by the RCMP’s Major Crime Unit on Sept. 14.

Bethany Jean Toombs, who until recently was listed on the East Wiltshire Intermediate School’s website as a counsellor within the student services team, was arrested on September 24. According to CBC, her name was removed from the school’s staff list by the following morning.

As an activist, she has been a vocal advocate for topics related to gender ideology and has contributed to various educational modules in the Grade 9 PEI wellness and relationship choices curriculum, focusing on subjects like consent, gender stereotypes, and sexual assault.

“Through this presentation and lesson plan, students will develop a deeper understanding of sexual violence and the importance of consent through an exploration of gender (norms, stereotypes, roles, and expectations),” a model in which Toombs is listed as a contributor reads.

“Specifically, students will understand how complex social factors contribute sexual violence in our communities while also working to identify safe and effective alternatives to abusive behaviour.”

CBC News also featured Toombs as an expert on parenting children with anxiety.