ocdsb to march in capital pride after reversing decision
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ocdsb trustee donna blackburn (middle) led a group of school board members in the capital pride parade in this 2024 file photo.
ashley fraser
/
postmedia
the ottawa-carleton district school board has reversed its decision and will now participate in this year’s capital pride parade in an official capacity.
capital pride executive director callie metler confirmed to the ottawa citizen that ocdsb ceo stacey kay told her during a phone conversation that the board will register to march in the aug. 30 parade.
“i haven’t received a registration yet, but i did talk to stacey over the phone this morning and she confirmed that it was forthcoming,” metler said.
the news comes after the board was criticized by capital pride, elected trustees and members of the lgbtq+ community.
“i’m really glad that folks involved with the ocdsb, whether it be students, staff, however they engage, that folks will have a way and entry point to celebrate pride at the pride parade,” metler said. “of course, everyone was always welcome, no matter what, but i’m glad that folks will feel as though the institution that they’re a part of are being supported by that institution.”
metler said she had been outspoken about her disappointment with the board’s initial decision and believes that message resonated.
“i was pretty vocal about the disappointment that i felt,” she said. “i’m glad that the messaging in the media and the news came through loud and clear, and that we were able to finally connect this morning, have a good conversation and be able to move forward in a positive way.”
in the first week of july, the ocdsb initially said it would not participate in the parade because it falls outside the school year.
the board later expanded on that explanation in an email to a concerned parent, saying the decision was driven by student safety concerns following disruptions at recent capital pride parades. it said senior staff had recommended against student participation because they could not guarantee students’ safety.
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the ocdsb said at the time staff would still attend the event “to represent the board,” but that students would not participate in an official capacity.
elected trustee donna blackburn, who had urged the board to reverse course, welcomed the change.
“i think it just shows that lots of times when people make the effort, democracy works,” she said.
the ocdsb has not yet publicly detailed what its participation will look like this year. metler said she expects those details once the board’s registration is formally submitted in the coming days.
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