Controversial WCDSB flag motion to be discussed during Monday's trustee meeting

CBC

28-04-2025

Proposed motion has sparked protests and counter protests surrounding the Pride flag
Image | Pride flag WCDSB
Caption: The Pride flag was first raised outside the WCDSB headquarters in June of 2021. A proposed motion set to be discussed during Monday evening's trustee meeting could see it banned, along with other symbolic flags on school properties. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)
While many remain focused on Monday's federal election, others have a local school board trustee meeting front of mind.
Trustees with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) will discuss a controversial flag banning motion Monday evening.
The motion was put forward by trustee Conrad Stanley and if passed, would only allow Canada, Ontario or school board flags to fly or be displayed on WCDSB properties.
That means other symbolic flags, such as the Pride flag, would be banned.
This has sparked outrage from people, specifically those who are part of or support the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
The Catholic board first raised the Pride flag in June of 2021.
According to trustee Stanley's motion, there is "no need not reasonable justification" for political or identity-based flags.
The motion has sparked protests and counter protests ahead of trustee meetings at the Catholic Education Centre in downtown Kitchener.
Those who support the potential motion say it's more in line with Catholic values.
"We just want to uphold those fundamental values of God that is family and then the procreation in the marriage," said Joshua Hayek, a devoted Catholic and ratepayer who has attended the counter protests.
"We're afraid of losing our school system because once all of these different ideas come in, eventually it'll be secularized and they'll just go public."
However, those against the policy say it feels like a personal attack on the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Raven Leach is a non-binary, fifth-year student at St. David Catholic Secondary School in Waterloo.
"I, myself am Christian, have been raised Christian, my whole family is Christian but I am also queer," they explained. "Hearing people use religion as an excuse to hate others has been really hard because Jesus calls us to love everyone."
The motion will be discussed and could be voted on during Monday evening's meeting, but board Chair Renee Kraft says they are seeking a legal opinion on how to proceed.
"I think moving forward, we've got to focus on unity and what unites us," Chair Kraft told CBC K-W during an interview on The Morning Edition.
"We need to figure out what we're doing with this and hopefully put it to rest and then propel ourselves forward, focusing on the things that unite us."
WATCH | 2nd rally held to protest Catholic school board's motion to ban Pride flags:
Media Video | 2nd rally held to protest Catholic school board's motion to ban Pride flags
Caption: A handful of protestors attended a rally on Monday afternoon ahead of a meeting by trustees of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) to address its flag policy. There were people there demonstrating on both sides of the issue. The trustees are debating whether to ban all flags except for the Canadian, Ontario and school board flag from being flown or displayed at schools across the region. If passed, it would mean the Pride flag could not be flown at local Catholic schools. Trustees are set to discuss the motion at a meeting scheduled for April 28.
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Meeting location
With large protests being held outside prior to the past two meetings, it's expected people will again be gathered outside the Catholic Education Centre.
Monday's election will also bring additional people to the area as there is a polling station directly across the street.
There were concerns about disrupting voters at the polling station, so the board had planned to move the trustee meeting to Resurrection Catholic Secondary School.
But on Tuesday, the board said that "due to an oversight in the director's office" the meeting would be moved back to the Catholic Education Centre as originally scheduled.
Board leadership
Kraft is new to the position after it was announced trustee Robert Sikora had stepped down from the position at the end of last month.
He was replaced briefly by trustee and vice-chair Linda Cuff on an interim basis. Then Cuff put her name forward to serve as chair and tied with fellow trustee Renée Kraft for the role. The position ultimately went to Kraft after names were drawn from a hat to break the tie.