Motion to ban pride flags coming to catholic school board meeting
Posted Mar 22, 2025 07:36:56 AM.
Last Updated Mar 22, 2025 01:42:18 PM.
An update to what flags the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) flies could be coming.
A meeting on Monday, March 24 looks to discuss a motion brought forward by Trustee Conrad Stanley that aims to ban rainbow, pride flags, and other political symbols.
Inside the motion it cites “ongoing complaints, protests and delegations” from Waterloo Catholic parents, constituents and rate payers as one of the reasons. Adding that the “international identity-based flags like the rainbow, pride and progress flags remains divisive and unpopular.”
If passed at a regular meeting planned for April 28, the WCDSB would only be able to fly three flags all year round – Canada’s, Ontario’s and the board’s.
The motion gives reasoning that the Canadian flag and Ontario flag represent everyone equally.
It reads, “Teaching children that these two flags unite us and represent all of us together equally contributes to the important work of cultivating their patriotism and love for our shared nation Canada.”
“This is no need, nor reasonable justification, for any other international political or identity-based flags to be flown.”
The motion wasn’t just about pride flags, it also looks to ban political symbols from being flown such as political party colours, Black Lives Matter or Make America Great Again (MAGA) flags.
It reads, “Examples of political symbols or slogans include: those associated with the Pride, Progress and Rainbow flags; Antifa red and black flags; Don’t Tread on Me snake flag; Confederate flag; BLM (Black Lives Matter); White Lives Matter; Fascist iconography; the Communist Star, Hammer and Sickle or raised fist emblems; the Anarchist A; MAGA (Make America Great Again); or the brands and colours of current political parties.”
They added that the list is “not exhaustive” and WCDSB staff “should err on the side of discretion and on the side of Catholic Church teaching.”
Religious symbols, free from politics, were exempt from the outlined policy being adjusted.
It goes on to say that “all decisions regarding external flags shall now be made solely by trustees.”
The public and Waterloo Catholic parents are still not permitted to film inside meetings but can show up to listen. A meeting to discuss the motion will be held March 24 at 6 p.m. at 1st floor Board Room, Catholic Education Centre, 35 Weber Street, Kitchener.
