York Region District School Board remains committed to identifying and removing barriers to success and well-being for all students and staff, inclusive of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or faith identity. For our students to reach their highest potential, we know their well-being is critical and that for them to thrive we must have learning and working environments that are identity affirming.
YRDSB continues to be committed to creating environments that are identity affirming for all, including the 2SGLBTQI+ community. This week, while we’re not aware of any at York Region schools, at events around the province, we are seeing some examples of transphobic, homophobic and biphobic hate. Any kind of hatred has no place in our schools or workplaces and will not be tolerated.
Our board embraces and affirms 2SLGBTQI+ visibility, diversity, abilities and inclusion. It is our expectation that all staff and students contribute to ensuring that everyone, including members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, feel safe and supported at school and work. Allyship is a verb and requires active participation to ensure that we as a school community are doing all that we can to ensure everyone feels included.
As a board, we continue to demonstrate our allyship through actions like having all schools raise the Progressive Pride flag during Pride month, creating Positive Spaces, creating GSAs and finding opportunities to create visibility for the 2SLGBTQI+ community wherever possible. We also continue to create developmentally appropriate learning about gender identity and expression, cissexism, transphobia, homophobia, biphobia and gender diversity. We ground this approach in a core commitment to Human Rights, which includes the protected grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
This is a commitment on which we will not waver.
If you or your child are looking for access to additional support, I encourage you to reach out to your school so they can connect you with identity-affirming resources and support. Additionally, the following community resources are available:
Family Services of York Region - 905-883-6572
Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org
310-COPE: 905-310-COPE (2673) or 1-855-310-COPE (2673) - available 24/7
KidsHelpPhone: 1-800-668-6868, text 686868 - available 24/7, https://kidshelpphone.ca
Mental Health Helpline: 1-866-531-2600 - available 24/7
York Hills Help Phone Line: 905-503-9561 - Visit www.yorkhills.ca for more information
Black Youth Helpline: https://blackyouth.ca
Naseeha Helpline: https://naseeha.org
2SLGBTQ+ Youthline: https://youthline.ca
PFLAG Canada York Region: 1-866-YR-PFLAG (977-3524) https://plfagyork.ca
We will continue to stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQI+ community and give our deep thanks to all the allies who continue to show their support toward positive student outcomes.
Bill Cober
Director of Education