An Ontario social worker has permanently surrendered his registration and agreed to never practice again after admitting to making sexually abusive and inappropriate comments to two vulnerable teenage students he was counselling. The Discipline Committee of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers found George Theodoris guilty of professional misconduct, calling his actions “disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional.”
In a decision dated June 23, 2025, cited as Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers v George Theodoris, 2025 ONCSWSSW 3 (CanLII), the committee detailed the events that led to Mr. Theodoris’s departure from the profession. The committee granted a publication ban to protect the identities of the two students, who are referred to as Client A and Client B, and the school where the incidents occurred. The panel noted the ban serves the public interest by encouraging the reporting of sexual misconduct.
The misconduct took place in the fall of 2022 while Mr. Theodoris was employed as a school social worker, providing counselling services to youth with complex social, emotional, and behavioural issues. According to an Agreed Statement of Facts presented at the hearing, Mr. Theodoris had a history with one of the students, Client A, having counselled her previously in elementary school. In the fall of 2022, Client A, a high school student whose complex history and mental health concerns were well known to Mr. Theodoris, was again referred to him for weekly counselling.
During a session on December 22, 2022, Mr. Theodoris made a series of inappropriate remarks to Client A about her body and clothing. While she was wearing a fitted tank top and an unzipped sweatshirt, he told her, with reference to her breasts, to “please cover those things up.” He also told her to “zipper up” and asked, “why do you have to do that?” He followed these comments by stating, “I am an old man. I can’t focus.” Unbeknownst to him, the student recorded the entire conversation on her cellphone. She later reported that the comments made her feel disgusting and she resolved never to see him again.
The school board investigation that followed revealed similar complaints from another student, Client B. She was also a teenager at the same school who was receiving weekly counselling from Mr. Theodoris for various psychosocial struggles. On multiple occasions between October and December 2022, Mr. Theodoris commented on her attire. He told Client B that she should “really cover up,” remarking that what she wore was distracting. He also warned her that she should “be careful” with what she wears. These comments made the student feel uncomfortable. The Agreed Statement of Facts noted that both students’ attire was compliant with the school’s dress code at all times.
Immediately following the December 22 session, Client A reported the incident to the school’s vice principal. Her mother also filed a report with the College. The school board promptly began an investigation, which also brought to light the allegations from Client B. When confronted by the school board, Mr. Theodoris denied making the statements. During interviews on January 25 and February 10, 2023, he attempted to undermine the students’ credibility. He suggested Client A was “out of sorts” at the time, referencing her medication and that she had been upset about a grade. Regarding Client B, he claimed his comments were made out of concern for her as a “high risk student.” Despite his denials, and the existence of the audio recording, the school board terminated his employment on February 28, 2023.
At a disciplinary hearing held by videoconference on December 16, 2024, Mr. Theodoris did not appear but was represented by counsel. Through his lawyer and the Agreed Statement of Facts, he admitted to all allegations of professional misconduct. He acknowledged that his remarks to both students irreparably harmed the therapeutic relationship and constituted sexual abuse as defined by the Social Work and Social Service Work Act.
The Discipline Committee panel found that Mr. Theodoris abused the position of trust and authority he held over vulnerable clients. His actions were found to have violated numerous professional standards, including failing to maintain appropriate boundaries, abusing a client sexually and emotionally, and engaging in a conflict of interest that put his clients at risk. The panel stated his conduct was “entirely improper and constitutes misconduct of the most serious kind: sexual abuse of clients.” They further noted his lack of understanding of the inappropriateness of his comments and the adverse impact they had.
The College and Mr. Theodoris’s counsel presented a joint submission on penalty, which the panel accepted. As part of the agreement, Mr. Theodoris signed an undertaking to permanently resign from the College and surrender his certificate of registration, which he first obtained in October 2000. He further undertook to never reapply for registration with the College or practice social work in any jurisdiction. The panel noted that this permanent resignation is a more robust and absolute consequence than a simple revocation, which the committee itself could order.
In addition to his permanent departure from the profession, Mr. Theodoris was ordered to receive a formal written reprimand, which will be recorded on the public register. Finally, he was ordered to pay costs to the College in the amount of $5,000 on a set payment schedule. The panel concluded that the joint submission was appropriate and satisfied the duty to protect the public interest, while also serving as a general and specific deterrent.
Read more cases about proceedings in regulated professions here.
