As one of the early leaders among school districts in Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) work, the Burnaby School District was pleased to host the Ministry of Education鈥檚 announcement, held during the first week of school (September 6).
- Learn more about our Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity policy and how we celebrate diversity in Burnaby Schools.
Education Minister Rob Fleming told an enthusiastic group of staff, students, and dignitaries at Cariboo Hill Secondary that $350,000 in provincial funding will allow for increased training, resources, supports, and an expansion of the annual SOGI Education Summit.
- 聽about the provincial announcement details.
Increased support for SOGI work was welcome news to Board of Education Chair Gary Wong, who addressed the crowd.
When students feel welcome, supported, represented, and safe, they are more engaged in learning. Funding for SOGI work 鈥 such as what Minister Fleming has just announced today 鈥 helps to support this valuable work.鈥
Cole Sheehan-Klassen, a Grade 11 student at Burnaby South Secondary and the Youth Hub, shared his personal observations about the impact of SOGI.
No one should ever fear going to school. With the help of SOGI education, I no longer feel like I have to keep my identity a secret. We all need opportunities to learn, and we all deserve to be understood.鈥
The event also featured Cariboo Hill鈥檚 choir who sang 鈥淚 Choose Love鈥 by Mark Miller, as well as powerful spoken word poetry聽by Janavi Chawla 鈥 a Grade 12 student at Moscrop Secondary:
“Queer is a great big rainbow keeping us all from being soaked in the rain.
It can be used to bring people up instead of down.
We are here
We are queer
And nothing’s going to stop us from being seen.”
