A Chilliwack school trustee candidate has responded to comments he made earlier this year regarding Muslim people \u201cbreeding.\u201d <\/p>\n
Cary Moore, who is part of a five-person slate called Trustees for Change, said a single screenshot from a Facebook group \u201cwas stripped of its context.\u201d <\/p>\n
He said this in response to a public statement made by the Chilliwack District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC), who posted a statement to their Facebook page on Wednesday (Sept. 2) regarding social media comments made by Moore about six months prior.<\/p>\n
The statement reads, \u201cThe Chilliwack DPAC Executive is aware of concerns raised regarding previous statements made on social media by Cary Moore, which have come to public attention this past week following his decision to run for trustee. Mr. Moore resigned from the Chilliwack DPAC Executive in March 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
It says DPAC had raised concerns with Moore about the expectations and responsibilities outlined in their code of ethics, specifically noting their \u201cduty to respect the diversity of our school community and to keep student well-being at the center of [their] work.\u201d<\/p>\n
It also says, \u201cMr. Moore\u2019s personal views and statements do not represent the views or position of Chilliwack DPAC, or the Chilliwack DPAC Executive, either during his time on DPAC or since his resignation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Progress has confirmed that Moore resigned in March for \u201cpersonal reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n
The DPAC statement did not explain details about Moore\u2019s comments. However, shortly after the post was made, Moore responded publicly to the group\u2019s statement, adding more details. Additionally, Moore\u2019s election slate has mentioned \u201cIslamophobia\u201d in a media release defending him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never hidden from the fact that some of my wording\u2014\u2019breeding\u2019 specifically\u2014was poorly chosen, even though it echoed language extremist leaders themselves use openly. I apologized for it. I took the post down. I did the work. I explained all of this to the DPAC Executive directly, with documentation, at the time. I have serious doubts anyone reviewed it before deciding I was guilty. That\u2019s not a process\u2014it\u2019s a verdict dressed up as one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore says that DPAC should apply its \u201ccommitment to \u2018respect\u2019 and \u2018inclusion’\u201d to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis collapse into tribalism is unfortunate. What our community needs isn\u2019t trial by screenshot\u2014it\u2019s open dialogue, good faith and a willingness to hear people out before rendering a verdict,\u201d Moore said. \u201cI won\u2019t be defined by one out-of-context screenshot, recycled on cue by someone chasing clicks and timed to an election. I stand by my record, and I\u2019m asking DPAC to correct the one they just put out.\u201d<\/p>\n
When The Progress reached out to Moore for further comment he said he would prefer to talk about his policy goals and how he feels he could contribute to the school board and collaborate with other trustees and the superintendent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here now to talk about inclusion for neurodiverse kids like [his daughter], and my other passion: Indigenous education and pulling my community out of poverty,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n
Slate responds<\/p>\n
On the same day, Trustees for Change released a statement to press in response to the DPAC post, titled \u201cJoint Statement on the \u2018Islamophobia\u2019 Smear Against Cary Moore.\u201d<\/p>\n
The release reads, \u201cTrustees for Change wish to reiterate our support for our colleague, Cary Moore and clear up some misrepresentations of his views and our own. We also want to put an end, now, to efforts by the Canadian Labour Congress candidates to distract voters and avoid the substantive discussion of policy voters need from serious candidates right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
They say that social media platforms, like Facebook, have been a place \u201cfor people to informally discuss their opinion and express their views in unguarded language\u201d and are not \u201cfor the vast majority of users, a publishing platform.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the time the comment was posted, Moore served as the Indigenous Representative for the Chilliwack DPAC, a position that remains unfilled.<\/p>\n
The statement also says the balancing of religious freedom with other human rights is \u201can important issue for us to debate freely and openly in today\u2019s Canada\u201d citing Quebec\u2019s 2019 law restricting religious garments and symbols for public sector workers and repeated controversies over access to prayer rooms for Muslim students in Ontario.<\/p>\n
\u201cCary Moore\u2019s personal opinion favours laws restricting, in certain contexts, the wearing of specific religious garments, in this case niqabs and burqas. These kinds of laws are in effect around the world, not just in France, Mexico and Quebec. Muslim-majority countries like Turkey and Egypt also legally prohibit the wearing of niqabs, burqas and even hijabs in many contexts; and their laws are more restrictive and stringent in this regard than those in, for example, France and Quebec,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur slate is not contemplating regulating religious garments in our schools in any ways. In our view, doing so would be yet another of the culture war distractions that have sapped board morale and effectiveness.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould the issue be brought before the board, we will ensure open, honest, comprehensive and free debate if citizens disagree with us and decide this is a priority for the board. If that happens, we will certainly act to ensure that no voice is silence and no powerful interests place their thumb on the scale.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore serves on the parental advisory committee for Strathcona Elementary. He and his wife have raised 64 foster children. He currently works as a real estate agent.<\/p>\n