7 episodes
The Band Played On CBC True Crime
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- True Crime
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4.6 • 497 Ratings
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This investigative series unravels a complicated web of five decades of historical sexual abuse involving dozens of teens–preyed upon by three teachers. Warnings were ignored, abuse continued, and the ...
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E1: The Gun
It's the summer of 1985. Peter Hamer is a typical, goofy teenager partying with his friends. They're drinking beer and coolers. Then he invites his music teacher to join them, with sinister intentions. Thirty-three years later, Hamer returns to his high school band room to explain what happened next. Listener discretion is advised.
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E2: The Coach
The coach was successful, charismatic and powerful, and in 1968 he treated student Rob Ferron like he was special. Years later, Madeleine Glaus discovers her son had been groped by the same coach, and had also been preyed on by a music teacher. Both men worked at the same school at the same time. How else were they connected? Listener discretion is advised.
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E3: The Dance of the Lemons
In 1986, Peter Hamer told a school administrator about his vulgar, abusive music teacher. Soon, the teacher was gone. Other adults had known what was going on, but it was a different time. This episode explores the institutional failure that allowed the abuse to continue. Listener discretion is advised.
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E4: The Crush
On a clear spring day in 2017, witnesses call 911 to report a fiery car crash. The driver of the car is a high school music teacher who’d been facing charges of sexual assault. That teacher's former student, Laurie Howat, is the one who pulls the thread that unravels a troubling web of secrets. Listener discretion is advised.
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E5: Face the Music
A predatory music teacher has his day in court, and victims are there to watch. When Peter Hamer tried to reveal his secret decades ago, authorities failed to act. Now they're listening. But after so much time has passed, will this man go to prison? Will survivors get the answers they've been seeking? Listener discretion is advised.
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E6: The Demon Inside
When the court documents are finally unsealed, they reveal a disturbing portrait of a sex offender who began preying on students in the late 1960s. Authorities, including police, were aware of the teacher's encounters with teens. The fresh details draw sympathy and forgiveness from some survivors, while others hold him responsible for failing to keep his demons in check. Listener discretion is advised.
Customer Reviews
Powerful Story
Mature content and difficult to hear the pain of the victims but SO well done. So much respect to the host, writers, producers, etc - compassion was heard in your storytelling of such a painful experience. Earbuds in people and listen to this story. It was hidden for too long and now it’s our time to hear them all. Thank you CBC for a comprehensive compelling podcast.
Heartbreaking stories
This is one of the best podcasts I’ve heard, and I’ve listened to many over the years. While I usually listen to true crime of a different genre, this holds as criminal in the way so many young kids were abused at the hands of teachers and nothing was done about it for years. I went to high school in the early 70’s, but back then, no one talked about this issue, teachers were “them” and students were “us” and, at least in my house, teachers were above reproach. I applaud the courage of the students involved for speaking out, and I sincerely hope they have found peace.
This is the best documentary podcast!
This is now a few years old. I have now listened to many, many podcasts, and this one still stands out. The telling of the story, and the interviews are done with honesty, empathy and compassion. What happened was shocking, and the lack of reaction by those in charge was criminal! It is a haunting reminder that we have to pay attention to what is happening in our schools!