WELLINGTON COUNTY – School board officials say “targeted hate crimes” like the recent vandalism of Pride flags at local schools can negatively affect learning and make some students feel unwelcome and unsafe.
“What we know is that belonging in a school, a school as a community, is incredibly important and safety attached to that belonging is incredibly important,” said Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) equity lead Jessica Rowden.
“And so these types of acts of hate and vandalism challenge a student’s ability to feel like they belong, and that they’re valued and they’re safe in their school community.”
Between June 11 and 12, Pride flags at three UGDSB schools – in Drayton, Moorefield and Harriston – were either removed from flag poles or both removed and destroyed.
“The UGDSB considers these acts to be targeted hate crimes,” board spokesperson Heather Loney stated in an email.
“We have reported the incidents to local police.”
UGDSB superintendent of education Brent McDonald said one positive is school staff saw the vandalized flags early in the morning and were able to have the flag or a replacement flag back up before students arrived.
“[We] were very pleased that staff were able to ensure that the visual impact of that was not noticeable when students came into school,” McDonald said.
“The impact though too, which we’ve seen throughout the communities, as well as our school communities, for students … has also been just an incredible outpouring of support within the broader community, but also within the school communities as well.”
McDonald also reiterated the board’s commitment to naming and addressing such situations when they happen.
“In this case, we named it quickly as an act of hate against homophobia and transphobia and biphobia against our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities,” he said.
He added an important part of the board’s response was to make the community aware of what had happened.
Another part of it, McDonald explained, is to pull together board staff, students and the local community to support those most impacted.
Rowden said the incidents are a powerful reminder to students and board officials that there’s more work to be done.
“Also, it reminds us of the amazing work that’s already happening and the support that we have from systems and staffing systems and larger communities, other students,” she explained.
“These types of incidents remind us of how much we still have to do to build awareness and reduce ignorance and hate, but also how thankful we are for all the great things that are happening.”
McDonald said the board is considering possible preventative measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again or to at least minimize the risk.
This includes working with the OPP, but also implementing enhanced security measures at schools and video surveillance on the symbols the schools have for Pride month celebrations.
“It’s a great time to amplify and sort of augment the work and highlight what happens, but it’s work that happens and it’s ongoing throughout the whole school year,” McDonald said.
Rowden added, “We do want to name the vandalism and the hate, and we also want to say that there’s a lot of space and ability to focus on the joy and the celebration.”
Aligned with Canadian flag etiquette
The UGDSB has a policy and procedures that outline the parameters for the flying of flags.
“There is a common misconception that it is illegal for schools to fly additional flags on the same flag pole as the Canadian flag,” states an UGDSB press release.
“However, the UGDSB policy and procedure is in alignment with the National Flag of Canada Etiquette, which states, ‘The rules applied by the federal government are in no way mandatory for individuals or organizations; they may serve as guidelines for all persons who wish to display the national flag of Canada and other flags in Canada.’”
McDonald stressed, “To have a flag … on the same flagpole as a Canadian flag is completely allowable and permissible, as long as it’s flown underneath the Canadian flag, which is what we have in all of our circumstances where there’s a singular pole on a school site.”
For more information about the Pride flag and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in the UGDSB, visit the board’s website.
