Ontario Teacher Allegedly Scolded Muslim Students for Not Attending Pride Day

File photo dated May 2023 of a Pride flag seen above Twickenham, London. Mike Egerton/PA Wire

A teacher at an elementary school in Windsor, Ont., allegedly told her Muslim students she was “disgusted” with their absence on Pride Day and that it was “an incredible show of hatred.”

“I do not want to be part of this school. I am so disgusted with what happened,” she was heard saying on a 15-minute recording posted online by True North journalist Élie Cantin-Nantel.

The teacher went on to tell the students that the school’s entire staff feels the same as her, as does the school board.

“It’s not that we’re hating on it, it’s just that we don’t want to support it,” a student replied. Some students said following their faith is important to them.

“You have all voiced to me that you cannot change your religion in order to support LGBTQ, and that is wrong,” the teacher said.

Many schools across Canada held celebrations or raised pride flags on June 1 for the beginning of Pride Month. Many students stayed home that day, with Christian and Muslim groups especially expressing concern over gender and sexuality discussions as part of the Pride Month events.

The recording is said to be of a teacher at Northwood Public School in Windsor. The school and school board did not reply to inquiries from The Epoch Times as of publication time.

Mr. Cantin-Nantel published a letter said to be from the school’s principal, Dustin O'Neil, in response to the incident.

“Dear Northwood families, We have become aware of some inappropriate comments that have been made following Pride Day,” says the letter, dated June 20. “I want to emphasize that the views expressed do not reflect the values of acceptance, inclusion and belonging that make Northwood such an incredible school and community.”

Mr. O'Neil apologized, saying he will personally speak with the impacted students. “We are addressing the situation,” he said.

Edmonton Teacher Scolds Muslim Students

An Edmonton teacher also allegedly rebuked Muslim students last month for avoiding school pride events.

“We believe in freedom, we believe that people can marry whoever they want. That is in the law, and if you don’t think that should be in the law, you can’t be Canadian. You don’t belong here and I mean it,” the Londonderry Junior High School teacher is heard saying in an audio recording circulated online.

“You are out to lunch if you think it’s acceptable to not show up because you think there’s some pride activities going on at school,” the teacher said, adding that the school celebrated Ramadan and “it goes two ways.”

The Edmonton Public School Board told The Epoch Times on June 7 it was aware of the recording.

“The school and Division are taking steps to address the situation,” the board said in an emailed statement, adding that it could not provide further information due to privacy legislation.

Prime Minister’s Comments

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a filmed conversation with a Muslim parent at Baitun Nur Mosque in Calgary on July 14 that “misinformation and disinformation on social media, particularly fueled by the American right wing” is to blame for Muslim parents’ resistance to LGBT matters in schools.

“There is not what is being said out there about aggressive teaching or conversion of kids to being LGBT,” he said.

In June, parents told The Epoch Times about some pride events at their children’s schools that they were concerned about. They included a pride fair where books on LGBT issues were available, a temporary pride tattoo booth, and the screening of a video called “Love Has No Labels,” which shows a variety of couples kissing, including same-sex couples.

A Pride Month display in the hallway of an Ontario high school told students they could choose from dozens of identities and sexual orientations, including poly-sexual and demi-girl. A photo of the display was posted on Twitter by former Ontario teacher Chanel Pfahl, who is a vocal opponent of what she calls gender “indoctrination” in schools.

The school, Stephen Lewis Secondary School in Thornhill, did not reply to an Epoch Times inquiry made on June 7.

The Epoch Times asked the Windsor Islamic Association for comment on the incident at the Windsor school, but did not receive a reply as of publication.

In London, Ont., the Council of Imams issued a statement on May 31 saying “modesty” is key to their faith. It expressed gratitude to the Thames Valley District School Board for its policy allowing parents to exempt their children from pride activities for religious reasons “without being portrayed as discriminatory or hateful.”

David Haskell, an associate professor in the faculty of Liberal Arts at the Wilfrid Laurier University, commented on the incident.

“For those holding traditional religious values, teachers in Canadian Public Schools will call you & your children (their students) ‘disgusting,’” he said on Twitter on July 20. “Remember, these students being berated bullied no one. They simply chose not to participate in an event against their conscience.”