Greater Victoria School District Raises Flag in Celebration of Pride Week in Victoria

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Friday, June 26, 2020

Greater Victoria School District Raises Flag in Celebration of Pride Week in Victoria

VICTORIA, BC ─ The Greater Victoria School District is raising a rainbow flag to mark Victoria Pride Week (June 28 – July 5th).

“Our Board wants everyone who walks through our doors to feel seen, safe and valued,” said Board Chair Jordan Watters. “Our schools are better for the presence of our 2SLGBTQ+ students, families and staff. Pride is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the courage, contributions, and resiliency of 2SLGBTQ+ people and communities. We know that bringing Pride into our schools year-round benefits all our students enabling them to fully be themselves and inspiring them to embrace diversity wherever they go.”

Schools within the Greater Victoria School District have GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) clubs that meet regularly to plan events that support diversity and inclusion within their school and District-wide. This year raising the rainbow flag at the Board Office during Pride Week was a district-wide GSA goal to raise greater awareness of diversity in the schools, District and community.

An annual highlight for students, staff and families is participating in the Victoria Pride Parade. Each year a District float, school bands and marchers join thousands of others in the event. Due to COVID-19, the parade has been cancelled this year but the District GSA continued to produce their pride t-shirts, which have been distributed to schools to be worn during Pride Week. This year our pride shirts also recognize the importance of anti-racism as a core value of the Pride movement. District staff will be wearing their t-shirts next week as the District raises their pride flag.

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For more information, please contact:

Lisa McPhail
Communications & Community Engagement
lmcphail@sd61.bc.ca
Office: 250.475.4103

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