The principal had responded to a news article saying it needed to be ’rewritten for accuracy.’
The Peel District School Board (PDSB) is investigating after a principal made a social media comment contradicting a news article about the rise of antisemitism with a claim that there is instead a rise in anti-Zionism due to Israel committing “genocide” in Palestine
In a Nov. 12 post on X, formerly Twitter, PDSB principal Rich Ward
responded to a news article indicating the headline should be changed from “‘Unprecedented’: Antisemitism has skyrocketed in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war” to “Anti-Zionism has skyrocketed in the wake of the Israel-led genocide in Palestine.”
He said it needed to be “rewritten for accuracy.”
The school board told The Epoch Times that the matter is under investigation and “this individual will not be at the school.”
However, the board spokesperson declined to comment further, saying the board “cannot comment further publicly on this confidential human resource matter.”
The school board shared a message that the director of education had written on Oct. 17 titled “Addressing Antisemitism and Islamophobia.”
“Given current events, we recognize that members of our communities who identify as Jewish, Muslim, Israeli and Palestinian may be grieving, and continue to be particularly vulnerable to incidents of hate,” Rashmi Swarup
wrote. “Together, we will remain vigilant in the use of our existing reporting structures to address any incidents that may arise.”
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, there’s been
increased instances of violence against the Jewish community in Canada. A Jewish school in Montreal was hit by gunshots for the
second time in three days on Nov. 12. Before that, on Nov. 7, a synagogue and a Jewish community centre were firebombed. As well, several Jewish-owned business have been vandalized in recent days.
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Leece also commented on the case of the principal.
“This is an appalling lack of judgment from an individual in charge of caring for the safety of all students & staff,” he
posted on X, saying he had been in touch with the leadership of PSB over the matter.
“I expect school leaders to bring us together, to stand up for values of civility, & denounce the sharp rise of antisemitism. Not enable it,” Mr. Leece said.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) also responded to the post, asking how Jewish students in the Peel Region can feel safe.
“Targeting Canadian Jews because of incidents unfolding in the Middle East is antisemitism, pure and simple,” CIJA
posted on X.
“How are Jewish students in [Peel Schools] supposed to feel safe when school officials think antisemitic hate acts are acceptable?”
The Ontario government announced it would be expanding Holocaust training as part of the Grade 10 history course.
“Our government is decisively combatting the rise of antisemitism and hate in all its forms,” Mr. Lecce said in a
news release. “By including new mandatory learning in Holocaust education in elementary and secondary schools, we are ensuring students are never bystanders in the face of hate and division. We will ensure that ‘Never Again’ is our legacy to the next generation, as we safeguard and promote those fundamental Canadian values of democracy, freedom, civility, and respect.”
The updated material will start in September 2025 and will link antisemitism with “extreme political ideologies,” the release said. It will also look at the “contemporary impacts of rising antisemitism.”
The war between Israel and Hamas started after Hamas terrorists launched a rocket attack on Oct. 7 against Israel, as well as ground operations targeting civilians in Israeli towns close to the Gaza border.
