Heather Latter
The Rainy River District School Board, in conjunction with Egale Canada, is hosting an information session for parents and community members this Wednesday evening (Nov. 12) at the board office to share the work it has been doing to create safe and inclusive communities for all students.
“This is the fourth time that we have brought them back,” noted Superintendent of Education Casey Slack.
“And it’s a very clear message about committing to safe and inclusive schools and as an organization.
“The Egale workshop is a key component of our equity strategy, and what we’re trying to do is provide professional development to all levels of our organization, including senior admin, educational assistants, teachers, principals, admin assistants, even maintenance,” Slack added.
But this time, the board asked Egale Canada about providing a public workshop open to parents and other residents.
“We’re trying to engage parents in so many ways and this is a fairly universal topic, and thought there might be some interest in the community, as well,” Slack explained.
“This is important because it is part of our anti-bullying campaign,” Slack added.
He noted the board had wanted the Egale workshops to coincide with Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week, which is Nov. 16-22, so it is happy they were able to come the week prior to that.
“It’s about building community and educating people, and trying to make our schools as safe and inclusive as we can for all people and all members of the school community,” Slack stressed.
Also next week, three one-day sessions are being offered by Egale to more members of the school board. And they even extended the invitation to some community partners, as well.
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, with a grant from the Ministry of Education, is supporting Ontario’s vision of safer and accepting schools for all by delivering free professional development workshops to every school in Ontario.
In the recent national survey “Every Class in Every School,” 64 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) students
reported feeling unsafe at school.
Meanwhile, 58 percent of straight students reported feeling upset by homophobic comments.
The workshops provide participants with a deeper understanding of the impact homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia and feeling unsafe have on student success and performance.
They also offer concrete strategies for creating safer schools for all students and staff by addressing homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia with confidence.
“The response from people throughout the organization who have participated in this workshop was that it is an overwhelming success,” Slack remarked.
In fact, some participants have raved that it’s some of the best training they have received.
Slack noted one of the Egale presenters also was instrumental in assisting the board host the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) event this past spring.
“There was over 100 people attending that workshop, including 70 students from across Northwestern Ontario,” he said.
“The focus was on ideas, strategies, and commitments around creating Gay-Straight Alliances in schools, with the idea to promote equity and make our schools safer and more inclusive for all students, regardless if they are straight or LGBTQ.”
Slack said all three high schools within the board have GSAs formed.
“It’s about student leadership and awareness about becoming more informed and tolerant,” he stressed, adding he hopes parents and other residents come out to the event to also become more informed.
“Understanding and knowledge goes a long way,” reasoned Slack.
To register for the Egale presentation, call Sandra Ward at 274-9855 ext. 4982 by this Monday (Nov. 10).
Dinner will be provided at 6 p.m., with the information session following from 6:30-8 p.m.
