Ottawa public school board recommends students not participate in Pride parade for ‘safety’

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) says staff will participate in the Capital Pride parade but recommends students not participate in next month’s event “because the board cannot guarantee student safety.”

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) says staff will participate in the Capital Pride parade next month but recommends students not participate in the event “because the board cannot guarantee student safety.” Ottawa’s largest school board has been participating in the August Pride parade since 2011. On Monday, the OCDSB said it would not be participating in the Capital Pride parade due to the school year calendar, noting the parade is held outside of the school year for students on staff.

On Thursday, the board said its position on participating in the Pride parade has “always been about student safety.” “In recent years, repeated disruptions, unexpected changes to the event, communication breakdowns, and the cancellation of the parade while students and staff were participating have made it increasingly difficult to ensure students can participate safely,” OCDSB spokesperson Diane Pernari said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. “Based on those concerns, senior board staff, including the Superintendent the Equity and Diversity portfolio, recommended that students not take part in the parade because the board cannot guarantee student safety.

Board staff will continue to attend the event to represent the Board.” Last August, the Capital Pride parade was cancelled shortly after it began when the group Queers for Palestine – Ottawa halted the parade on Wellington Street and issued a list of demands. In 2024, the OCDSB was among several organizations that withdrew from the Pride parade after Capital Pride organizers issued a statement in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Suspended OCDSB trustees Donna Blackburn and Lyra Evans have criticized the board’s decision not to participate in the Pride parade. “This is outrageous,” Blackburn said, encouraging people to email the OCDSB to protest the decision. The Capital Pride parade is scheduled for Aug. 30 at 1 p.m.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Together, We Shine.” In June, Mutchmor Public Elementary School cancelled a drag queen storytime event as part of Pride Month due to “questions about curricular alignment. The Ottawa Catholic School Board says it has not participated in any parades as an organization.

“We demonstrate our commitment to supporting 2SLGBTQ+ students and staff throughout the school year in our schools and communities,” the board said in a statement. “Throughout Pride Month, schools across the Board display the Progress Pride flag and many host activities and initiatives through local Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), Rainbow Clubs and Diversity Clubs that promote belonging, understanding and respect. We remain focused on fostering welcoming, inclusive and respectful learning environments for all.”