The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board stands firmly against racism, injustice and discrimination. The recent events in the United States as well as here in Canada have sparked an outcry that we are listening to and acting upon so that change will take hold.
“Our schools are located in predominantly white geographical areas, which only means that a strong statement of solidarity is needed even more at this time. As a mother of bi-racial children, I can tell you firsthand that racism is evident in our schools between students, through implicit biases held by some staff, from some parents, and certainly systemically. We are not immune.” (Angela Odusanya, Parent and Staff Member)
As a Catholic educational institution, we stand together with Black students, staff and families who experience racism and inequality. We pledge to foster environments that are respectful, welcoming and safe for all our students, families and staff members.
Our message is clear: racism continues to harm our community and we are called as Catholics to take action to change it, for the sake of a better, more inclusive future.
We are committed to:
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Safe, respectful and inclusive spaces;
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Ongoing learning, listening and understanding of how racism and injustice impact our community;
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Putting our learning and understanding into practice - from the Director’s office to the student’s desk;
We can do better, we must do better - let us join together as a community of faith, hope and love to make an important difference. To help start and continue this important dialogue, we encourage you to take a look at some resources below or visit our website www.smcdsb.on.ca.
Brian Beal Joe Zerdin
Director Education Board Chair
Additional Resources and Supports for Students and Staff
If you know a young person who is struggling right now, please encourage them to reach out to a caring, trusted adult.