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