Council's waited over a year for review of contracts with Redeemer University, requested after student death

WARNING: This story contains references to suicide and may be distressing for some readers. 

The city has not reviewed its contracts and funding with Redeemer University, more than a year after city councillors made the request of city lawyers and senior management following the death of a student on campus. 

The request was made in February 2023, after a transgender student died by suicide on campus in 2022 and concerns were raised the university was violating city policy that aims to ensure the rights of trans people are respected. 

A family member of the student said the delay is "so disappointing." 

"Maybe to some people, this was just a headline, but this was my sibling and their life mattered," said Jelayne Wiebe, sister of the late Bekett Noble.

"For it to just be on an outstanding business list, it just seems like not enough."

There were concerns following Noble's death from Hamilton's LGBTQ advisory committee that the private, Reformed Christian university doesn't follow a municipal policy that states "transgender and gender nonconforming people must be treated with full dignity, whenever they interact with city and city-funded services."

It's unclear if the city considers the policy when making contractual agreements. However, the committee's concerns prompted the request to review contracts and funding, but that review hasn't taken place — and city spokesperson Lauren Vastano said there's no date set on when there will be an update.

Redeemer doesn't receive government operating funding like a public university does and must rely on donations, but it has received millions in taxpayer dollars through federal grants and programs. It has also received money through city contracts.

Noble, 34, was a fourth-year psychology student at Redeemer University who was nonbinary and used they and them pronouns.

They were known in the school community for working various jobs on campus and for co-founding Genesis, an unofficial student group on campus promoting LGBTQ+ awareness.

Noble died inside the school on Nov. 23, 2022 and their body was found the next day. Their death shook Hamilton's 2SLGBTQ+ community.

An email Noble sent to the university leadership shortly before their death obtained by CBC Hamilton indicated Noble felt the school didn't adequately support LGBTQ+ students.

The school cancelled classes that day, lowered its flag to half-mast and offered counselling services.