The former Newmarket teacher accused of sexual abuse and other misconduct by the Ontario College of Teachers is denying the allegations.
Ryan Imgrund, who was a teacher, department head and coach at Sacred Heart Catholic High School, is facing a disciplinary hearing yet to be scheduled regarding incidents with students between 2016 and 2020. The notice of hearing for breaches of conduct under the Ontario College of Teachers Act includes alleged abuse of a student psychologically or emotionally and abusing a student sexually.
Imgrund, who left the teachers college June 8, pushed back on the allegations in a series of direct messages to former radio personality and podcaster Dean Blundell. Imgrund is quoted as saying context matters and that he has had no inappropriate relationships.
“There are probably three or four real points, and even those are perfectly understood with context,” Blundell's website quotes Imgrund as saying in text messages. “The other 15+ things are complete fabrications.”
The college document cites allegedly inappropriate communication with several students, including an inappropriate relationship with one in which he sent a shirtless photograph of himself. The allegations have not been tested in a disciplinary hearing or court of law.
NewmarketToday has not received a reply to a request for comment from Imgrund, who left the York Catholic District School Board in 2021.
The allegations involve five students, whose names are withheld in the notice of hearing. At an athletic event, Imgrund is accused of engaging in an inappropriate message chat with four of the students, in which he allegedly invited them to meet him at a pool late at night.
The teacher also supposedly had a four-year improper relationship with one student.
“If you don’t say I’m good looking, I’ll cry,” the notice of hearing quotes Imgrund as allegedly saying to a student.
Imgrund, who labelled himself a biostatistician, became a widely quoted media source and gained a social media following for his efforts in tracking the COVID-19 pandemic using R values. He continued that tracking and expressing opinions — which were at times controversial — about the pandemic and government initiatives until Sept. 9, when the allegations surfaced.
Asked about actions taken in regards to the allegations, York Catholic District School Board senior manager of communications Mark Brosens said the board could not comment.
“Ryan Imgrund is not an employee of the York Catholic District School Board. The YCDSB cannot comment on a matter that is before the Ontario College of Teachers,” he said.
