We are deeply saddened, frustrated, and angry that we are writing about an ongoing dynamic of disinformation that sows division amongst communities, and distrust in our public schools. 

To be abundantly clear, we are not hiding an agenda from the public we serve. The curricula taught in our schools is available for everyone to see on the Manitoba government’s website and our teachers have always welcomed and promoted ongoing dialogue with families about the learning journey for students in their classrooms.

On September 27, 2023, Manitoba education partners released a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to confronting discrimination, intolerance, intimidation, prejudice, and the disinformation intended to undermine public education as a trusted institution. We both serve as presidents of our respective provincial organizations that co-authored this message.  

The 2SLGBTQIA+ community continues to be the focus of many hateful attacks. The most recent have been specifically aimed toward transgender and non-binary members of our community in an attempt to undermine their identity, dignity, sense of belonging, and safety. The Louis Riel School Division Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees condemn these attacks and hateful rhetoric. We stand with, and support, 2SLGBTQIA+ staff, students, and family members in our community, schools, and workplaces.

One of our core values in LRSD is inclusion and diversity; our first strategic priority in our Multi-Year Strategic Plan for both 2019-2023 and 2023-2027 is Belonging. Every person who steps foot in an LRSD building deserves to be safe, cared for, and treated with respect.

We are committed to nurturing our learning environments to be places of belonging for everyone, no matter their gender or sexual orientation. Consequently, we can’t remain silent about the lies and hateful attacks that target the 2SLGBTQIA+ members of our community. To remain silent is to be complicit. 

We are always working to improve how we support and amplify 2SLGBTQIA+ voices and all identities in our schools: 

• Policies AC (Respect for Human Diversity), ACH (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), ADD (Safe Schools) support our commitment to human diversity, inclusion, belonging, and safety in schools 
• Supporting GSA groups (Gender-Sexuality Alliance) in 16 schools 
• Making belonging a top priority in all strategic planning

Christian Michalik, Superintendent of Schools

Sandy Nemeth, Chair of LRSD Board of Trustees