A man from the Toronto area has filed a lawsuit against the Ontario government and the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, claiming that he was moved between more than 40 residences and subjected to repeated sexual, physical, and psychological abuse over 12 years of childhood spent under provincial care.

The statement of claim filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in December alleges that Jonathan Stavro was subjected to repeated physical, psychological, and sexual assaults by various legal guardians after being removed from the custody of his biological parents when he was six years old. It also claims he was twice forced to enter youth detention centers without sufficient cause, where he was subjected to "harsh and unusual" punishment, including physical restraint.

In return, Stavro is seeking $5 million in damages due to the alleged failure of the defendants, who also include several youth detention centers and group homes in the region, to ensure that his places of detention were free from abuse, homophobia, sexual misconduct, and isolation.

In an interview with CTV News Toronto, Stavro confirmed that coping with the trauma he experienced as a child was difficult.

He said, "The trauma I experienced happened under the care of state agents who are mandated to keep children safe, and I was never safe at all."

Stavro's claims have not yet been tested in court, and no statement of defence has been filed. The Children's Aid Society of Toronto declined to comment on the lawsuit when contacted by CTV News Toronto. The Attorney General's Office did not respond before publication.

Now 30 years old, Stavro was placed under provincial care along with his twin brother after being removed from their biological parents due to drug abuse issues. He remained under state guardianship from age six to eighteen.

In June 1999, Stavro was placed in a care home in Orangeville, Ontario, where he would spend his "formative years," according to the claim. Over time, the claim alleges that the environment in this home became hostile and abusive, and he was physically and psychologically targeted because of his sexual orientation by his foster parents.

At age ten, Stavro claims that a foster parent struck him in the face, and he responded in self-defense, which led the family to forcibly place him in a youth detention center for several weeks. There, the claim alleges he was subjected to "solitary confinement, mechanical restraints, and psychiatric drugs aimed at calming and sedating him."

The claim states: "He did not need any such treatment, all of which constituted harsh and unusual punishment." It also alleges that staff at the center dismissed Stavro's allegations of abuse as false without conducting a proper investigation. "Effectively, Johnny was blamed as the victim, illegally detained in a secure treatment facility and treated for defending himself after being hit [by his foster parent]."

After three years, the claim states that Stavro was beaten again by a foster parent, leading to his second admission to the detention center.

The lawsuit alleges that while living with the Orangeville foster family, Stavro was subjected to various forms of physical punishment and solitary confinement. It claims that the foster parents prevented Stavro from using the bathroom as he wished, locked him in the basement for extended periods, forced him to exercise outdoors at midnight, and mocked him because of his sexual orientation.

At age 12, Stavro was placed in a group home in Oshawa, Ontario, where he stayed for nearly eight months. The claim alleges that during his stay at the home, he was sexually abused and raped by another resident.

Paul Miller, Stavro’s lawyer, said the allegations in the claim represent a "total failure" on the part of the province to protect the most vulnerable. He said, "If these allegations are proven true, the violation is horrific and the damage immense."

Stavro now works as a paramedic and has had to seek extensive psychological treatment for his mental injuries in the years following his exit from the system, according to his lawyer.

Miller said, "He’s done a great job trying to make a life for himself, but you can’t erase the most important years of your life and say it's okay—it’s not okay."

Throughout his career and personal life, Stavro has suffered severe episodes of mental health breakdowns as a result of his treatment while under provincial care, the claim outlines. It states, "He has struggled to maintain employment and relationships with colleagues, authority figures, friends, and family."

Overall, the lawsuit alleges that the Crown violated Ontario’s Child, Youth and Family Services Act by failing to protect Stavro from abuse and provide stability through suitable placements. According to Miller, it is a first step towards meaningful change.

The lawyer said, "It takes more than just a lawsuit to make change happen." "If you’re successful, you have to stand in front of the ministry and say, 'Look. This happened. We proved this. What will you do to make sure it doesn’t happen again?'"

Stavro added that if this claim helps one child avoid a similar situation, it will be worth it.

"The biggest reason I’m doing this is because I don’t want another child to go through something like this at all."