Today, schools on Broadview Avenue were disrupted by an individual who travels around the world targeting schools and disrupting student learning. Schools are places of learning and should not be the target of political protests.
In the interest of safety, students at Broadview Public School and Nepean High School generally stayed inside through the day and were kept away from the protests. The students showed remarkable maturity in dealing with the disruption to their learning. We extend our deepest gratitude to the staff who showed their care and compassion by supporting students and one another through this challenging situation. We also want to thank parents and guardians for their patience and understanding as we worked to ensure their children were kept safe. We also extend our appreciation to the many partners who provided support, including the Ottawa Police Service.
The OCDSB would like to acknowledge the support of the community. We appreciate the numerous positive messages of kindness and inclusivity towards 2SLGBTQ+ students and staff.
Hate is not welcome here. To 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff, and community members, please know you belong and deserve to feel welcome and accepted to be who you are.
Our schools continue to offer resources and supports to those affected by today’s events. Additional community resources to support members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community are available here.
There is misinformation circulating on social media regarding our approach to building inclusivity within our schools. Gender Identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation are grounds protected from discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code. The OCDSB procedure that explains how we manage these rights and work to build inclusive schools can be found at this link.