Kelowna asking province to help protect school kids from anti-gay activists

The superintendent of Central Okanagan schools is looking for the provincial government to help protect children from anti-gay and anti-trans leafletting near schools.

But it’s unclear whether the Ministry of Education is willing to help.

“Originally, Action4Canada had come on our property to deliver leaflets and we had them removed from the property,” superintendent Kevin Kaardal told iNFOnews. ca. “The RCMP supported us on that. Unfortunately they are not on our property now and, at this time, there is no legislation that prevents them from being near a school to hand out the misinformation they are providing. I just don’t think schools, where elementary kids are learning, is a place for adults to protest. Where does civil discourse come in any more?”

The Action4Canada leaflets claim school libraries carry pornographic books and the provincial Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) material promotes things like homosexuality.

The most recent leafletting was near Chute Lake Elementary School, forcing parents to write to the school board asking that it do more to protect children.

READ MORE: Kelowna schools being targeted by gay/trans bashing protesters

“We do have legislation around misinformation and protests around the pandemic and vaccinations,” Kaardal said. “It doesn’t apply to this particular topic at this time.”

Both the education minister and deputy minister are aware of the concerns being raised in the district about the leafletting that has been happening periodically throughout the school year, he said.

“There may be work happening at the government level,” Kaardal said. “I don’t want to comment on that. That’s not something I control.”

Does that mean he’s not lobbying for some legislative changes?

“I didn’t say that,” Kaardal said.

But, when iNFOnews.ca contacted the Ministry of Education asking if it was considering creating so-called bubble zones around schools or looking at some other actions, there was no direct response.

“Hate has no place in B.C., especially in our schools,” said an email response attributed to Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care. “The wellbeing and safety of students in British Columbia’s K-12 education system is my highest priority. No student should ever feel excluded, marginalized or bullied, for any reason – including their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“As we strive to make B.C. a more welcoming place for everyone, we solidify our government’s continued support for more equitable and inclusive schools. We will continue this work to ensure every school is a place where all students, staff and families feel safe and like they belong.”

A followup email asking specifically about the possibility of a bubble zone elicited this response, attributed to the Ministry of Education:

"The Ministry is in ongoing communication with the local school district about anti-SOGI sentiment and understanding opportunities for them to enhance safety."

The concerns about leafletting come at about the same time as two Grade 4 girls were questioned about their gender at a recent district-wide track meet at the Apple Bowl.

READ MORE: Two Grade 4 girls accused of being boys or trans at Kelowna track and field event

Kaardal has interviewed the teachers who were present at the event and is sending letters to both the grandfather and grandmother who made those comments, banning them from School District 23 property and events.

“The investigation confirms the gentleman questioned the gender of two athletes, that the wife and he escalated dialogue with parents and the teachers organizing the event, that they were belligerent, that they wouldn’t leave when asked,” Kaardal said.

The shot put event, in which the two girls were competing, was moved to the other side of the Apple Bowl track. The grandparents did leave but returned to watch, silently, from a distance, he said.

All those actions violate school policies.

“Whether they spoke directly to the girls doesn’t matter,” Kaardal said. “They heard it. They were traumatized. They cried. That’s reported by our teachers. They were unable to compete any more in what should have been a celebration.”

While parents have occasionally been banned for inappropriate behavior, such bans have never been for questioning someone’s gender, he said.

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