Defamation lawsuit against WRDSB can proceed: Ontario Court of Appeal

The Waterloo Region District School Board will have to defend itself against allegations of discrimination, following a ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal.

The suit was filed in January 2022 by former educator Carolyn Burjoski. She was a delegate at a school board meeting and presented her concerns about certain books in elementary school libraries that feature themes of gender identity and sexuality.

Former board member Scott Piatkowski was concerned some of the language in the presentation was in violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code, and had the presentation shut down.

Burjoski claimed that after media outlets picked up on the story, she was labelled as being discriminatory, which led to emotional distress. She filed a defamation lawsuit in response.

The board attempted to have the case tossed out but that was rejected by the Court of Appeal, meaning the lawsuit can proceed.

In a post to X, Burjoski called the decision a “major victory.”

When asked for comment on the ruling, Burjoski, Piatkowski and the school board refused because the matter is back before the courts.