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After questions about its participation in Ottawa’s Pride parade this year, the city’s largest school board is now planning to march.
That’s according to Capital Pride executive director Callie Metler, who said the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) has now registered for the Aug. 30 parade.
Last Monday, OCDSB responded to reports that it was planning to sit out the parade this year by saying the event falls outside the school year, even though that hasn’t stopped it from marching before.
CEO Stacey Kay later told a concerned parent by email on Wednesday that the decision was made over safety concerns in light of what she described as two years of political activism, including a disruption by a pro-Palestinian group that halted the parade last year.
She told the parent that staff had recommended “against official institutional alignment” with the parade.
Then, on Thursday, OCDSB spokesperson Diane Pernari told CBC that staff will continue to attend the event to represent the board, though at that time she said board staff had recommended against students participating.
But it remained unclear whether that meant the OCDSB was planning to register and march in the parade as an official contingent.
Pride director, board CEO spoke by phone
Metler confirmed that she had a conversation with OCDSB CEO Stacey Kay on Monday and then received a registration later that day.
“Stacey Kay and I talked on the phone this morning and I heard that the decision was maybe a little hastily made, and that after hearing from their community they were wanting to participate in the parade after all,” said Metler.
She said she’s happy to have Ottawa’s largest school board back in the march.
“I’m really glad that our local 2SLGBTQ community, especially the youth involved at the OCDSB, have a space where they are welcome and invited by the institution that they’re part of to celebrate in the Pride parade,” she said.
While Pernari’s earlier statement suggested that students were discouraged from taking part, Metler said she understands from her conversation with Kay that that is no longer the case, though OCDSB may be unable to provide supervision for the students attending.
She said she feels like OCDSB and Capital Pride are now in a much more open and communicative place.
Trustee credits public pressure
Elected trustee Donna Blackburn, who has criticized the OCDSB over its Pride parade position and called on it to march, said management buckled under public pressure.
“I’m very grateful that, under my leadership, people en masse spoke up and indicated their dismay with the decision,” she said.
Blackburn said she’s pleased that the current OCDSB management has recognized the leading role the board has previously played recognizing 2SLGBTQ+ rights.
“I’m hoping that, going forward, this pattern of bad decision making around these issues stops,” she said.