cite the true story on the net, please.

"Boys of St. Vincent, 15 Years Later" movie might answer some other questions, too. If I recall, the commision was still ongoing when the film was released, so I don't think they could really say one way or another. The 2nd film, which I have not yet seen, might answer that for you.

This is from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Queen Elizabeth II library:

http://www.library.mun.ca/qeii/cns/archives/boys.php

The Boys of St. Vincent
Videocassettes
MF-327
Arranged & Described by Bert Riggs
Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University of Newfoundland
November 1994

Historical Background - Scope & Content - Provenance - Restrictions - Extent - Arrangement & Description

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

In the spring of 1989, a Roman Catholic priest, Rev. James Hickey, stationed in Ferryland, Newfoundland, was charged with several counts of sexual molestation of young boys in his parish. Within a short time, there were many more charges, involving other priests in other parishes, some dating back twenty years. One of the most startling revelations occurred when a number of young men who had been residents of Mount Cashel Roman Catholic Orphanage in St. John's during the 1970s accused some members of the Irish Christian Brothers, who were responsible for operation of the orphanage and the care of the boys, with sexual molestation. More alarming were allegations that the molestations had been brought to the attention of social workers, police and justice officials at the time, but that there had been a sanctioned cover-up, with the Brothers who were accused being transferred out of the province. A commission of enquiry was established by the Roman Catholic Church, and a royal commission was established by the provincial government to look into the accusations of abuse and cover-up. After the revelations in Newfoundland, similar charges were made by former residents of orphanages in Ontario, and by children who had attended Native schools in Western Canada, against the clergy and persons in religious orders who ran those institutions.

In 1990 John Smith, a Canadian film-maker whose previous films include Welcome to Canada, a 1989 release set in Brigus South, Newfoundland, commissioned St. John's writer Des Walsh to prepare a film script based on the revelations from Mount Cashel and the other Canadian incidents. Entitled The Boys of St. Vincent, the story was centred in a fictional orphanage, St. Vincent's, in St. John's, Newfoundland. Filming commenced in Montreal in late 1991 and in St. John's in early 1992; the film premiered on the national network of the CBC on December 6-7, 1992, but was banned from telecast in Ontario and parts of Quebec by court injunction because it was claimed the film might prejudice the outcomes of several trials involving similar charges in those provinces. On December 5-6, 1993 it was re-released on the national CBC network, including the provinces where it had been banned in the previous year. It topped the ratings, with 2.1 million viewers on the first night and 2.6 million on the second.

The Boys of St. Vincent received very positive reviews from local, national and international critics, including The New Yorker, The New York Times, Commonweal, Entertainment Weekly and The New Republic. It was also the recipient of numerous awards both in Canada and internationally. It was a major winner at the 1994 Gemini Awards for excellence in English-language Canadian television, winning seven awards, including best mini-series, best leading actor in a dramatic role for Henry Czerny, best supporting actress Lise Roy and best screenplay Des Walsh. It also won best film and best lead actor (Czerny) awards at the Cannes International Film Festival (January 1993), the grand prize and best mini-series winner at the Banff Television Festival (June 1993), an award from the Columbus (Ohio) International Film and Video Festival (September 1993), a gold medal at the New York Festival of Broadcasting (January 1994) and an award from a film festival in Umbria, Italy. The film went into international release in 1993, with plans for broadcast in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Argentina. The home videocassette was released in 1993.

SCOPE & CONTENT
This fonds consists of videocassette copies of a film dramatization, loosely based on a series of events which occurred at an orphanage operated by the Irish Christian Brothers religious order in St. John's, Newfoundland, in the 1970s, and on subsequent revelations from former residents of orphanages in Ontario, and Natives in religious schools on reserves in Western Canada. While it is a fictional account, the film provides very powerful and accurate reporting of the sexual abuse of young men in the care of persons in positions of trust.

PROVENANCE
These copies of the videocassettes were given to the Centre for Newfoundland Studies by Bert Riggs in November 1994. The film was originally produced by Télé-Action in co-production with the National Film Board of Canada, in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and with the participation of Telefilm Canada. It was released as a home video by Alliance in 1993 and purchased from Columbia Video Club.

RESTRICTIONS
There are no restrictions on access to this material. The motion picture contained in these videocassettes is protected under copyright. The cassettes are sold for home use only and all other rights are expressly reserved by the copyright owner. Any copying or public performance of this motion picture using these cassettes is strictly prohibited and may subject the offender to civil liability and severe criminal penalties. All rights reserved.

EXTENT
Two VHS videocassettes, total playing time 3 hours, 4 minutes (1 hours, 32 minutes each).
ARRANGEMENT & DESCRIPTION
1.0 The Boys of St. Vincent (1993)

1.01 The Boys of St. Vincent : videocassette - part 1 (1 hour, 32 minutes)

1.02 The Boys of St. Vincent : videocassette - part 2 (1 hour, 32 minutes)

Return to Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives Finding Aids Page

I'm surprised no one has answere this, yet. The story was based on events that took place at an orphanage run by a Roman Catholic called The Christian Brothers. The orphanage was called Mount Cashel.

This story is based on what happened to the boys..... However, my mother grew up in that hell hole, and was in fact interviewed 1st, as the writer wanted to based his story on the girls whom were growing up there, however.... My aunts, that were there with my mother, decided not to tell their story, because for them it was just to hard to bring out all that had happened to them all, my mother is now 85 and wants to tell her story.....