HWDSB kicks off Pride Month celebrations

Celebrations are underway across the area to mark the beginning of Pride Month. School boards in Hamilton, Halton, and Niagara marked the day by raising the Pride flag for the duration of June.

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The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) kicked off its June Pride celebrations on Thursday.

“At HWDSB, positive culture and well-being is an absolute priority for us. We want all students, families, and staff to not just feel safe but to also be supported, accepted, and celebrated,” Education director Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini said.

Robinson Petrazzini and other speakers gathered for the third annual flag raising to honour and celebrate students, staff, and community members a part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

This year, the HWDSB says it is integrating the new progressive Pride flag. Mitch Borsc, who is an openly transgender educator and equity consultant with the board, says the new flag is a way to represent all communities.

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Borsc said, “…we see community members from the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities that have historically been left behind and standing in solidarity with all marginalized people, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community people are progressing forward.”

The Pride flag was also raised in neighbouring regions, including Halton, both at the public and the catholic school boards.

However, the public board says some schools did experience higher than normal absence rates on Thursday. Some people were seen protesting in front of the Halton District School Board (HDSB). And some school boards in Ontario opted to not raise the flag at all.

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