Update May 20, 2026: The Crown has filed a notice of appeal, seeking for all acquittals to be set aside for a new trial to be orered on all counts. More information by CBC News here.
The recent acquittal in the R. v. Sloka trial has sent shockwaves through our community, leaving many survivors, advocates, and residents grappling with a profound sense of injustice. As one of the largest sexual assault prosecutions in the history of the Waterloo Region—at one point involving nearly 70 complainants—the scale of this case was unprecedented. For over a decade, these women navigated a grueling legal process, showing immense bravery in the pursuit of accountability.
The verdict delivered on April 24, 2026 and the reasoning provided in the decision impacts the collective safety and trust of survivors across the province. When the justice system fails to reflect the gravity of such extensive allegations, it risks silencing those who may consider coming forward in the future.
YWCA Cambridge stands in unwavering solidarity with the survivors of this case. We also wish to express our gratitude and respect to the Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) of Waterloo Region for their leadership throughout this case and their day-to-day dedication to supporting surviviors.
In response to the verdict, YWCA Cambridge submitted a formal request to the Honourable Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario, calling for a comprehensive review of the decision and a serious pursuit of an appeal. We believe this is a necessary step to restore public confidence in the administration of justice.
The full letter to the Attorney General is shared below.
For a PDF version of the letter, click here.
May 13, 2026
TO: The Honourable Doug Downey
Attorney General of Ontario
Ministry of the Attorney General
Toronto, Ontario
doug.downey@pc.ola.org | attorneygeneral@ontario.ca
Re: Requesting a Full Appeal Review of the R. v. Sloka Verdict
Dear Attorney General Downey,
I am writing to you on behalf of YWCA Cambridge to express our profound concern regarding the April 24, 2026, acquittal in R. v. Sloka, and to respectfully urge Ontario’s Crown Appeal and Review Branch to undertake the fullest possible review of this decision, with serious consideration given to pursuing an appeal.
This case has deeply impacted survivors, families, frontline advocates, the public across the province.
The trial of Jeffrey Sloka was one of the largest sexual assault prosecutions in Waterloo Region’s history. At its peak, the case involved close to 70 women and more than 70 charges. Following pretrial rulings and dismissals, the accused ultimately stood trial in relation to allegations involving 48 women.
For many of these women and their families, this has been a decade-long journey.
Complaints to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) about Dr. Sloka date back to 2010. In 2018, police began their investigation. In 2019, CPSO revoked Dr. Sloka’s licence after finding his conduct constituted sexual abuse of multiple patients. Sloka did not contest the allegations during his disciplinary hearing, nor did he contest having his license revoked. The criminal trial itself stretched from 2021 through 2025.
On April 24, 2026, Justice Craig Parry acquitted the accused of all criminal charges.
While we acknowledge the independence of the judiciary and the foundational principles of due process, we cannot ignore the devastating impact this ruling has had on survivors in our province, particularly given the scale of the allegations, the number of complainants, and the expert evidence presented during trial.
For many survivors, this verdict has reopened wounds, reinforced fears about coming forward, and deepened existing mistrust in a criminal justice system that already sees extraordinarily low reporting and conviction rates in cases of sexual violence.
Only six percent of survivors ever report sexual assault to police. Of those who do, only about 10 percent ultimately see a conviction. Survivors are too often asked to navigate lengthy, invasive, and often retraumatizing legal processes, with no guarantee that their experiences will be meaningfully recognized.
This case will now shape how many survivors assess the risks of coming forward – not only in Waterloo Region, but well beyond its borders, given the notoriety it has garnered.
Public concern following this verdict has been immediate, widespread, and deeply felt. While public outrage alone cannot and should not determine legal outcomes, it can and should signal when public confidence in the administration of justice has been shaken.
That is why the appeal process matters.
We respectfully urge your Ministry, through the Appeal and Review Branch, to ensure that this verdict receives the highest level of legal scrutiny and that all viable grounds of appeal are carefully examined, including but not limited to:
- Potential errors in the application of law
- Potential misapprehension of evidence
- The treatment of expert testimony
- The application of legal principles related to credibility, consent, and patterns of abuse in professional care relationships
We urge your office to ensure that this matter receives the thorough appellate consideration it deserves.
Respectfully,
Kim Decker,
CEO, YWCA Cambridge
