He was a celebrity pastor at one of Canada’s biggest megachurches. Inside the sexual abuse allegations that brought down Bruxy Cavey, the public face of Toronto’s largest church.
Katelyn Leahy was there when the former pastor’s wife, Cynthia, announced plans to sell Trenchtown Church on St. Clair Avenue. She heard the news in the lobby of the church.
It was the first time Leahy had ever visited Trenchtown Church.
“I didn’t know who she was at the time. I was in the lobby getting my bags from the taxi. I went into the lobby and saw Cynthia and she came and embraced me. She said to me, ‘It was a beautiful day, so I thought I’d stop by to see you.’ That was kind of weird.”
Leahy has never forgotten the look of shock and embarrassment on Cynthia’s face. She was wearing a fancy black dress.
“You would have thought that she’d just come in from work or something.”
Cynthia, a teacher at Wilfrid Laurier University, also told Leahy that her husband had been fired from his church. She said she hoped Leahy could come to their home for a quiet wedding and that Leahy could bring her children.
“She’s the mother of my children,” Leahy said. “So it was kind of strange.”
Leahy was in town on spring break. He didn’t know anyone in the United States. He rented a furnished room at a hotel and said he began to look online for a church to attend.
He found one in Toronto. Trenchtown Church, located on St. Clair Avenue next to the downtown Toronto courthouse. He drove over to take a look at the church. He was surprised to find it more spacious than he expected.
He had to park a half mile from the door and he went to the front door, where he found a man standing on the sidewalk. It was the pastor who had been fired at Trenchtown Church.
Leahy couldn’t resist.
“All I can remember thinking was, I want to meet this guy.”
Leah