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Viggiani is a member of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, which runs the private, independent co-educational Catholic school, court documents say. Over a span of 50 years, he was a student at the college, teacher and principal, and has been president since 2010.

Founded in pc28����in 1851, the prestigious school moved to its current, 12-acre location at 131 Farnham Ave., near Avenue Road, in 1931.

However, the school is pushing back against Voutsinos’s allegations. A statement of reply filed in response to a defamation lawsuit Voutsinos filed March 7 against Viggiani, school administrator Joseph Pupo, and Nicanor Catre, a lawyer and chair of the College’s board of directors, denies all allegations, and asserts Voutsinos was let go due to concerns over his handling of classroom scheduling and what it describes as his “campaign to oust” Viggiani.

That document says Voutsinos “turned on Brother Domenic” and launched a campaign to oust him after he was removed from the building committee overseeing renovations to the college’s science and innovation centre, “because of his constant interfering with plans and decisions.” Voutsinos was also embarrassed when the school’s charitable foundation declined to accept a family’s donation that he had agreed to, despite not having the authority to do so, the statement of defence says.

His “quest” to oust Viggiani escalated when the board became aware of issues with the teaching schedule and the number of classroom hours taught. An audit committee prepared a report identifying “issues,” and when Voutsinos’ response didn’t satisfy the board, members unanimously voted to fire him, the statement of defence says.

For his part, Voutsinos, in his reply, denies he was campaigning to oust Viggiani, that he was ever told he was interfering with building plans, nor did he solicit or accept any parents’ proposal regarding a donation to the college. Both of Voutsinos’ lawsuits were filed by lawyers Joe Groia and Leanne Gruppuso. They declined to comment.

Lawyers Gordon Meiklejohn and Gina Saccoccio Brannan, counsel to the De La Salle College, wrote in an email to the Star on Friday that the statement of defence to the first lawsuit “addresses the reasons for his termination.”

“The College is bound by employee/employer confidentiality, but it will file a statement of defence in due course to the second action and will vigorously defend Mr. Voutsinos’ allegations,” the email stated.

“The College, its board, and staff remain singularly focused on promoting and fostering the best interests of its students and the College’s broader community and will continue to do so. Other than expressing profound regret that the former Principal has sought to advance his personal interests ahead of the interests of the College Community, no further comment will be made.”

None of the allegations in either side’s filings have been tested in court. 

According to the court documents, Voutsinos was hired by the College in 2006 and continued working there for 19 years. Prior to becoming principal in August 2023, Voutsinos held a number of senior roles at the school, including teacher, guidance counsellor, director of student services and vice-principal. At the time of his dismissal, he earned about $195,000 a year along with benefits.

In his second lawsuit, a wrongful dismissal statement of claim filed this past week, Voutsinos alleges he made a number of serious complaints on behalf of himself and fellow staff members, both verbally and in writing, and that the school’s board of directors failed to initiate any investigation or make any further inquiry into the complaints.

On one occasion, the statement of claim alleges Viggiani warned Voutsinos not to hire young female teachers as there was a risk “they would become pregnant and cause disruption at the College.”

It also states female staff members did not feel supported at the College, and that Viggiani and other members of administration operated the College as “an old boys club” that privileged male staff.

For example, on one occasion, over Voutsinos’s objections, Viggiani organized a welcome dinner for new male teachers and declined to invite or organize a similar event for new female teachers, the statement of claim says.

“Members of staff also told Voutsinos that Viggiani had made racist and homophobic remarks about College staff. For example, members of staff told Voutsinos that Viggiani had said, “hate the sin not the sinner” to an LGBTQ+ staff member. They also complained that Viggiani’s emails to the College community often contained these offensive views.”

Staff members also complained to Voutsinos that proper business office procedures for budgeting and awarding contracts to third parties were not being followed by the College and that contracts were being awarded based on preferential treatment. Voutsinos was concerned that if left unaddressed, these instances of misconduct would cause a toxic workplace culture to develop at the College, the statement of claim says. That happened in 2024, notwithstanding his “best efforts” to prevent that from happening.

When Voutsinos shared these concerns in a private meeting with Catre, he alleges the lawyer told him “there are whistleblower laws in Ontario that will protect you,” the statement of claim says. Yet no steps were taken to address or investigate his complaints and Voutsinos continued to face harassment from Viggiani, the statement alleges. Instead, Voutsinos was “subjected to retaliation from Viggiani and other members of leadership at the College for raising the complaints,” while Catre advised him to “eat a s—- sandwich” for the next 18 months until Viggiani retired, the statement says.

Voutsinos is seeking a total of $3.5 million in damages.