Former Winnipeg teacher charged with voyeurism, child pornography

WARNING: This article contains details of abuse.

A 37-year-old man who was a teacher at schools in Winnipeg has been charged with multiple voyeurism, child pornography and sexual exploitation offences.

Matthew James Mousseau is accused of making video recordings in April 2023 and May 2024 of children and adults in various stages of undress in the family change room of a public pool in the city's Maples neighbourhood, Const. Claude Chancy said during a Friday news conference.

During the investigation, information came to light that led police to believe Mousseau had also "inappropriately engaged" with a student while he was teaching at a high school in the North End.

"We obviously have a [sexual assault] survivor here that we have been in contact with that has spearheaded this investigation," Chancy said.

"We know that there is the potential of more survivors having been involved, or having contact with this individual. We do realize this is a traumatic event for this person. We do thank the survivor for bringing this up to us."

Mousseau was arrested on Oct. 2 and charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation, voyeurism, possession of child pornography and accessing child pornography.

He had been employed as a teacher in Winnipeg schools until May 2024 but no longer is, police said.

Chancy would not reveal what Mousseau taught, which grades or for how long he was employed, but the Winnipeg School Division listed a Matthew Mousseau as a cultural support worker as recently as February 2024.

Chancy would only say the job involved several different schools in the city. He wouldn't identify any of them.

"I'm not going to specify exactly what that entailed, but this is obviously a position of power where [he] had access to youth."

Asked if Mousseau was employed outside of Winnipeg, Chancy said he "couldn't answer that."

Winnipeg School Division superintendent Matt Henderson told CBC Mousseau worked for the division from 2021 until he resigned on May 7, 2024, and confirmed he was employed as the division's Indigenous way of life teacher.

Because it involves a criminal investigation and personnel matter, Henderson said the division couldn't provide any more information.

At this point, Chancy said, police don't know how many victims were recorded in the pool change room, only that "we know it's multiple individuals."

As for the total number of sexual abuse images and videos recovered from Mousseau's phone, Chancy said "we're speaking hundreds here, hundreds."

The investigation began when police were alerted to child sexual abuse imagery on Mousseau's cellphone, Chancy said, but he would not go into details about how that happened.

"At that point, more information was gained on the involvement in other factors and other incidences that we speak of today," he said.

"It started with a smaller investigation and it turned into a large investigation, where we have some serious offence committed against a youth."

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information who wants to speak to investigators is asked to call 204-986-6172.

The Winnipeg Police Service also reminds everyone to be aware of their surroundings, especially when using a change room or washroom facility in a public setting, and to report suspicious items or activity in or around these settings.

"This is important for us to put out there and for people to be aware that those things are happening in our communities," Chancy said.

For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. ​​If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.