The campus director for Champlain College Lennoxville is at the centre of a slew of psychological harassment, nepotism and conflict-of-interest allegations from current and former senior employees, CBC News has learned.Four people who reported to Beattie at the college have testified under oath against her, including one person who is the plaintiff in the case.
Current and former high-level managers at the Lennoxville campus said they were concerned with incidents of what they describe as nepotism involving Beattie and her husband. Champlain College Lennoxville is one of three campuses under Champlain Regional College. "This is the problem," said Rivett. "Everything reports back to Nancy and nothing ever happens because she's so determined to protect Daniel."
Coley-Gomez alleges Beattie began to single her out after the incident with Poitras – dismissing her in meetings, appropriating Coley-Gomez's ideas, removing her from committees, withholding information and ignoring her calls and emails. "It's always difficult to deal with people's perceptions. We can't read people's minds but we can work on real problems."
At the time of Beattie's appointment, Poitras already held the position of finance manager and the two were in a relationship. Rainville issued a written statement by email through a public relations firm. He said the college is committed to "the success of our students" and won't comment on the case being addressed in the tribunal "out of respect for those involved.
"Other employees had come and seen me as well, be it faculty members or other employees at the college who were constantly concerned about this … Everybody felt powerless about it."