Bestselling Canadian writer Steven Galloway has refuted allegations of sexual assault made by a former UBC student in court on Wednesday. Galloway, the ex-chair of UBC’s creative writing department, is currently engaged in a defamation lawsuit against four individuals, including his main accuser known as “A.B.” Galloway asserts that the accusations against him are false and have severely damaged his professional standing and reputation.
The allegations brought forward by A.B. are based on a 2016 UBC investigation report authored by retired Supreme Court justice Mary-Ellen Boyd. A.B., whose identity is protected by a publication ban, is not providing testimony during the trial. Galloway vehemently denies the specific incidents described by A.B., such as an alleged assault on his sailboat in 2011, stating that they never occurred.
Additionally, Galloway contests another accusation of assault in his UBC office in May 2011, emphasizing that the details provided by A.B. are inaccurate. He clarified to the court that he had consensual relations with A.B. on that occasion, refuting any claims of misconduct. Galloway expressed shock at the unfolding events, recounting his surprise upon learning about the allegations through a phone call from a CBC producer in late 2015.
The author also highlighted his dismay upon discovering that A.B. had shared confidential information with the media, leading to his suspension by UBC in 2015 and subsequent termination in 2016. Galloway criticized the university’s handling of the situation, referring to it as a rush to judgment influenced by external pressures. Several defendants in the defamation case have since settled with Galloway and issued public apologies.