The Pride flag may soon be banned at Catholic schools in the Region of Waterloo but it was carried proudly, and in protest, ahead of Monday night’s board of trustees’ meeting for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB).
Hundreds of people gathered at Kitchener’s Downtown Community Centre for the demonstration.
Some came draped in rainbow colours, while others held signs protesting the proposed motion that could ban almost all flags, including the Pride and Progress flags, at WCDSB schools.
The motion, put forward by Trustee Conrad Stanley, would only allow for the Canadian flag and the Ontario flag to be flown.
“Both flags together, because they represent our Constitution and collective laws, are fully inclusive and representative of all the diverse people who reside under their jurisdiction,” the motion said.
“There is no need, nor reasonable justification, for any other international political or identity-based flags to be flown which might confuse the all-encompassing, inclusive and fully representative natures of the Ontario and Canadian flags,” it continued.
Stanley’s motion also cited “ongoing complaints, protests and delegations from the public” regarding “identity-based flags.”
It also covered what is hung in classrooms and hallways.
“No other political symbols or slogans may be displayed inside or outside WCDSB facilities,” the motion said. “This includes on any signage, banners, pennants, posters, murals, plaques, window paintings, wall paintings, floor or ground paintings, statues, decorations or stickers (large or small).”
Stanley’s definition of political symbols or slogans included the Pride, Progress and rainbow flags, Confederate flags, and Black Lives Matter and White Lives Matter iconography.
The motion stated all future decisions regarding flags would be made solely by trustees.
If approved, the only other flag allowed to be flown would be one representing the school board.
Despite his motion explicitly mentioning identity-based flags, Stanley said the motion was meant to depoliticize school environments.
“It was not meant about the Pride flag in particular,” he said. “It was about political symbols. There are many controversial political symbols: the flag of Israel, the flag of Palestine, for example. These are all political symbols that are controversial to different groups and could be offensive to different groups in different contexts,” he said.
But some of the people gathered outside said they did not believe his explanation.
“Frankly, I think it’s a bit strategic and a little bit sneaky. It’s easy to hide things in broad thinking like that,” parent Thomas Brown said.
“The Pride flag is not a political issue, it’s a human rights issue. It’s a human decency issue,” school librarian Sarah Martin said.
Difficult decision
Tyrone Dowling, the director of education, advised trustees at Monday’s meeting that the 2021 decision to fly the Pride flag was made by school board management and not trustees.
As it was meant to support both staff and students, Dowling suggested it would be negligent on his behalf to not speak to the risks associated with the motion to remove the flag.
He also worried the move would show “a lack of respect for the people in Waterloo Catholic District School Board.”
Dowling said he believed the decision should remain an administrative responsibility.
A final decision on the Pride flag motion will be made on April 28.
MPP asks education minister to intervene
Aislinn Clancy, the newly re-elected Green MPP for Kitchener-Centre, previously worked with the WCDSB as a social worker and supports flying the Pride flag.
“I was with the board when we rose the Pride flag, I know how much it means to the staff and students that we create welcoming, safe spaces for all students,” she said Monday.
Clancy was disappointed the motion was presented to trustee board.
Now she’s asking the education minister to step in.
“The ministry has been intervening when they feel that trustees are overstepping, and so I’m hopeful that the ministry will intervene,” Clancy explained to CTV News.
Pride Protest
Protesters began to gather around 5:30 p.m. and wrapped around the building.
One sign had the words “I’m a teacher and I teach that love is love,” emblazoned around a rainbow heart.
“I think [the Progress flag] stands for more than what it actually stands for,” teacher Greg Cinti told CTV News. “When people see it, they know that it’s a safe place for anybody to walk into and there are people in there that will accept them for who they are, where they’re at and whatever journey they’re on.”
“We’re here to show the trustees of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board that we support the flying of the Pride flag,” Patrick Emanski, local president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, said.
“It’s very sad when some folks seem to think that groups need to be silenced. As Catholics, as Christians, we try to following the teaching of Jesus, and that is inclusive of everyone,” Emanski said.
The Pride flag was first raised outside the WCDSB office in June 2021, coinciding with Pride Month.
