BURNS LAKE (NEWS1130) – As a lawsuit launched by former VANOC John Furlong against the Georgia Straight begins its journey through our courts, an RCMP investigation is proceeding.

Investigators have apparently made a visit to Burns Lake, the town where Furlong taught physical education back in the late 60s and early 70s, and where several of his former students claim he was abusive.

Chief Wilf Adam of the Lake Babine First Nation says people who’ve made those allegations have now been interviewed.

“The local RCMP office told me that there was a team of investigators. They came about three weeks ago. The office didn’t give any of the names of the people who were being interviewed,” says Adam, who doesn’t know how many people gave statements.

Adam himself was a student when Furlong was a teacher, and had said he was rough on students, but says he was not interviewed by police.

When the allegations against Furlong surfaced in September, RCMP would only acknowledge that an investigation was launched.

Furlong is suing the Straight for the story that alleges he was abusive to students.