Former Coral Harbour teacher charged with assaulting student

Michelle Wolf, a former Coral Harbour teacher, will go to trial in February to face a charge of assaulting a student.

Defence lawyer Lisa Jean Helps entered a not-guilty plea via videoconference in an Iqaluit courtroom Monday on Wolf’s behalf.

Helps asked for two days to be set aside for the trial. She said she expected three witnesses to be called to testify.

Wolf, 44, was charged in October after an incident alleged to have occurred on May 5, 2023. Nunatsiaq News is not naming the complainant.

Crown lawyer Christopher McCarthy confirmed to Nunatsiaq News during a court recess on Aug. 12 that Wolf worked as a teacher in Coral Harbour and is accused of grabbing a “disruptive” student.

A summons to appear in court that was issued in November 2023 — a few weeks after Wolf was charged — indicates she was living in Ulukhaktok, N.W.T. McCarthy said he believes Wolf is still living in Northwest Territories.

Nunatsiaq News has not been able to independently verify Wolf’s current place of employment. She was not present in court Monday.

Helps could not be reached to comment on her client’s charge or to confirm where Wolf lives or works now.

Justice Faiyaz Alibhai set Feb. 24, 2025, as the trial date, advising Wolf’s lawyer that it would be held in Coral Harbour, despite the fact that court appearances have taken place in Iqaluit since the charge was laid.

Helps, who told the judge she had never tried a case in Nunavut before, said she is “very much looking forward to it.”

The judge advised her of the flexibility required for trials in the North.

“Just because it says Feb. 24 does not mean the trial will commence on Feb. 24. Counsel and the accused, along with the witnesses are expected to be ready and available for that time in the week,” Alibhai said.