Purpose

This record exists to document publicly known student deaths and serious injuries connected to Ontario’s publicly funded schools.
Each entry is based on credible media reports, coroner findings, or court proceedings. The goal is not to assign blame, but to ensure that lessons are learned — and remembered.

By tracking and publishing these cases, this website seeks to:

1. Preserve the public record of preventable harm.
2. Honour the students whose experiences led to legislative or procedural change.
3. Demonstrate the urgent need for independent, province-wide safety auditing.

Confirmed Fatal Incidents

2003 – Renfrew County Catholic DSB
Student: Sabrina Shannon, age 13.
Cause: Anaphylactic reaction in high-school cafeteria.
Outcome: Led to Sabrina’s Law (2005) — the first legislation in the world mandating anaphylaxis policies in schools.

2011 – Ottawa Catholic School Board
Student: Eric Leighton, age 18.
Cause: Explosion in shop class during fuel-tank project.
Outcome: Criminal negligence investigation; strengthened safety rules for technology education.

2012 – Thames Valley DSB (Elgin County)
Student: Ryan Gibbons, age 12.
Cause: Asthma attack at recess; inhaler locked in office.
Outcome: Ryan’s Law (2015) ensures students can carry prescribed asthma medication.

2013 – Ottawa-Carleton DSB
Student: Rowan Stringer, age 17.
Cause: Multiple concussions sustained while playing rugby.
Outcome: Rowan’s Law (2018) mandates concussion education and return-to-play protocols.

2017 – Toronto DSB
Student: Jeremiah Perry, age 15.
Cause: Drowning on school canoe trip; did not pass required swim test.
Outcome: Teacher charged; led to review of outdoor-education risk management.

2019 – Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
Student: Devan Bracci-Selvey, age 14.
Cause: Stabbed outside school after repeated bullying reports.
Outcome: Public outcry; calls for better anti-bullying enforcement and supervision.

The next chapter in Ontario’s education story should not begin with another child’s name.

Additional Reported Incidents (Non-fatal or Under-Reported)

• Repeated cases of choking, anaphylaxis, and medical emergencies where emergency response protocols were unclear or delayed.
• Injuries in physical education, technology labs, and field trips leading to long-term disability.
• Ongoing violence and suicide-related cases linked to unaddressed bullying and inadequate safety plans.

Systemic Pattern

Each tragedy exposed a preventable gap:

• No standard investigation process after a student death.
• No public provincial registry of incidents.
• No requirement for boards to demonstrate that recommendations from coroner’s inquests are implemented.

Ontario remains the only large public sector serving children that does not conduct independent safety audits following fatalities.

Call to Action

“Every law named after a child is a reminder of a life lost to an avoidable system failure.
The question is not whether we can prevent future deaths — it’s whether we will.”