LETTER: Surrey schools aren’t treating Christianity fairly
Published 7:00 am Friday, April 10, 2026
Editor,
I want to raise my concerns about how religion is being handled in the Surrey school district – a public school system. Right now, I feel it is not balanced and I feel there is an anti-Christian sentiment evolving.
Canada’s statutory holidays, like Christmas and Easter, reflect the country’s historical Christian roots. Yet this heritage seems to be increasingly sidelined and changed depending on the audience within some schools.
My youngest child, a teenage son, Canadian-born and a Christian, has been reprimanded for using religious language at school, while other faiths are openly discussed, taught, and celebrated.
Sikh religious holidays are acknowledged, encouraged and everyone participates in the events. The district head office has created a dedicated prayer space for Muslim staff.
If inclusion does matter, why is is not applied across the board – instead, the district has become selective.
Looking at the Surrey school district social media over the past year, there is little to no recognition of Christian observances like Lent, Passover, Holy Week – Easter and Christmas have symbols that do not represent what we are celebrating. This is noticeable and deeply concerning.
I am not opposing other religions – however, I do want consistency and fairness. Public schools should be spaces where all students feel equally respected in their beliefs, not just those selected by a bias leadership department.
Right now, looking at the social media posts, I feel the question is: Is the district’s approach to equity serving all students?
A public school district should support everyone – not just a select group of students.
Jackie Vuilleumier