After more than four decades, Dennis Cooper is ready to share his story.
In 1977, he was a Grade 6 student in teacher Brian Moore’s class at Upper Lynn Elementary School in North Vancouver.
“He was a part of my life and was represented as a trusted figure like an uncle in my family,” Cooper said Thursday.  “It was very typical of him to befriend the parents of the children he taught.”
Cooper is now the lead plaintiff in a proposed class-action lawsuit against Moore, which alleges the former teacher groomed and sexually assaulted male students on field trips and field trips.  None of the claims have been tested in court.
“We water-skied, we snow-skied, we swam in varsity, we went on camping trips,” Cooper said.  “It was our adventure that we all wanted and that’s what made us vulnerable.”
Allegations in court documents include the defendant telling students to shower naked with him on a swimming trip, masturbating on a ski trip, having students sit on his lap for driving lessons and climbing naked in Cooper’s sleeping bag while camping.  The lawsuit also said some former students died by suicide.

Dennis Cooper is shown in a classroom photo with his Grade 6 teacher at Upper Lynn Elementary School in North Vancouver in 1977.
“There are anger management issues, there are addiction issues, there are relationship issues,” Cooper said. “It had some deep and insidious effects on people.” CTV News reached out to Moore, but did not hear back. In early August, North Vancouver RCMP arrested a retired teacher who taught at Upper Lynn Elementary between 1970 and 1982. A search warrant was also executed at the 82-year-old’s home. At the time, police said seven victims had come forward since the initial complaint received in June. They did not name the person arrested. In a statement, the North Vancouver school district called the allegations “disturbing.” “Since this former employee’s file did not include any record of misconduct as an employee and as his employment with the school district ended more than 40 years ago, this situation is considered an RCMP matter,” the district said. “We would like to assure the community that we have cooperated fully with the RCMP as they conduct their investigation.” Cooper said sharing his story, though difficult, gave him purpose: to help others do the same. “The message got across,” he said. “Do something about it. It will make you stronger. It will make you feel a sense of justice.” RCMP said they believe there are additional victims in connection with the case that led to an arrest last month and are asking people to contact them at 604-969-7593.