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Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WARMINGTON: No investigation so far as video shows kids kicking Indian PM's photo
Calgary Police officers say they are 'aware' of shocking social media videos showing Canadian children kicking the likeness of the face of India's prime minister, and of adult protesters allegedly calling for the incarceration of Narendra Modi. While police don't see any criminality, why are Canadian kids growing up in a safe city like Calgary participating in a cosplay of inflicting physical punishment on a world leader from thousands of kilometres away? And where are their parents? At a time when Canada is hosting the world, it doesn't look good. How will these kids act as adults? While a video showed an Ontario licence plate on a rental trailer carrying a mock display of Modi — depicted in a jail cell, restrained with handcuffs, and with a target on his face — it has been confirmed by Calgary Police this video was shot at a Sikh temple in Calgary. 'This happened (on the weekend) at Dashmesh Gurdwara in Calgary,' said independent journalist Mocha Bezirgran, adding the 'the truck is from Vancouver.' It's unclear how the trailer with an Ontario licence plate got there. However, videos from Bezirgran show the truck and trailer were deployed in a rolling protest on Alberta's highways which coincides with the G7 Summit. Modi was among the many of the world's leaders scheduled to attend the meeting. In fact, Prime Minister Mark Carney extended a personal invitation to Modi. Relations between India and Canada have been bumpy for several years. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau expelled six Indian embassy staff over the 2023 murder of Khalistani Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Carney's invitation to Modi is seen as an olive branch to improve relations. However, Sen. Baltecj S. Dhillon, a former Mountie, wrote in a public essay Sunday that 'inviting Prime Minister Modi at this moment represents a troubling departure from our principles' and 'prioritizes short-term strategic calculations over long-term democratic values' and 'sends the message that trade, and geopolitical interests matter more than sovereignty, justice, and public trust' and confirms 'there are no real consequences for foreign interference in our democracy.' For Carney, these videos are potentially embarrassing as the world watches Canada and the G7 Summit, while also presenting a possible security issue. For example, as Bezirgran reported on X, 'Khalistanis have taken over Calgary's municipal plaza shouting, 'Kill Modi politics.'' Keean Bexte, of Juno News, showed this was being done right in front of police officers. Using 'kill' and a world leader's name in the same sentence, seems far more troublesome than anything anything done by the Freedom Convoy protesters convicted in a court and now facing serious jail time. Others convoy supporters had their bank accounts frozen. 'We are aware of these videos and have reviewed them,' said Calgary Police in a statement. 'At this time, this conduct does not appear to be criminal in nature; however, we are in contact with the organizers of this rally to ensure their demonstration remains lawful.' Calgary Police added officers will 'continue to monitor the behaviour of all demonstrators throughout the G7 Leaders' Summit and will take enforcement measures, when necessary, to respond to criminal activity or maintain public order.' One leading the Calgary city hall rally was originally convicted and later vindicated of a conspiracy to commit mass murder in an alleged Air India bombing plot of a flight in New York. Other leaders told Bezirgan troubling things on Monday, including, 'I am ready to kill Modi politics,' as well as being willing to 'ambush Modi' and describing him as 'an enemy of Canada, this Hindu terrorist.' But as concerning as what the adults were saying, most surprising was seeing young boys — looking as young as 10, and no older than 12 — dressed up in traditional clothing while lunging, punching and kicking Modi's picture. 'This isn't activism. It's radicalization. And it starts at home,' said one commenter on X. It's definitely troubling— especially with Modi set to participate in the G7 meeting. The Prime Minister's Office, the Indian embassy in Ottawa or Gurdwara Dashmesh have yet to comment on the videos. But I will. It is important to say any violent action is not peaceful protest. Any Canadian is entitled to demonstrate but it must be done respectfully, peacefully and not hatefully. And when you see children participating, there needs to be a discussion. Modi is our prime minister's guest. He leads the world's largest democracy, and should feel secure in Canada. Any concerns about his leadership, should not be taken out on the highways, or involve children. They should be raised in the public square like any other protest. Demonstrators threatening violence or seeing kids kicking photos is just unCanadian. Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy WARMINGTON: Peel cops find two murder suspects in B.C., wanted for Brampton killing
Newsweek
16-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Canadian School Denies Calling the Word 'Family' Racist
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Canadian school board in Baden, Ontario, has denied teaching its staff that the word "family" is racist. The claims first surfaced in a news article, which revealed details from a presentation given to staff at the Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School (W-O) entitled: "Dismantling Whiteness at W-O: Words Matter." Newsweek reached out via email to Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), outside of usual working hours, seeking further information and comment. Why It Matters Race can be a sensitive and, in some school districts, politically-divisive issue, both educationally and socially. Some commentators have suggested that racism in Canada has surged in recent years, where classroom discussions on race and language have gone viral and teachers have been provided with an online tool to allow them to anonymously report racist incidents. Protesters march during an anti-racism demonstration on June 6, 2020, in Toronto. Protesters march during an anti-racism demonstration on June 6, 2020, in To Know Teachers at the high school in Baden were reportedly shown a slide that stated the word "family" had been "identified as harmful by our racialized students," according to alternative media site Juno News in collaboration with the True North website. However, the WRDSB has hit back, by releasing a statement "categorically" denying that its workshop had been "teaching that the word 'family' is racist." It is the second time it has faced the issue. The presentation about "dismantling whiteness" was given back in November 2023, although details only emerged this month. The story was broken by Juno News in a post by a True North journalist on June 4, after the outlet was given the materials by a whistleblower. One of the slides, which was pictured by the news outlet, said that "Whiteness is a system…a construct that allows white supremacy to flourish." Another quoted from a book called Culturally Relevant Pedagogy by Laura Mae Lindo, which said that white culture teaches various "biases" and uses "key words and phrases to promote the dominant culture." One such word was "family," which entails individuals "sacrificing personal boundaries," and was deemed "harmful by our racialized students," because it implies a male authority in the home and a nuclear family that many people do not have. The word "family" also "asks for obedience; [with] no room for questions or criticism," the slide reportedly said. Another slide suggested that asking for evidence amid allegations of racism was a "characteristic of whiteness" that should be abolished. The outlet quoted an anonymous source at the school board, who said: "Teachers just want to get on with their job of teaching. Ideology—if you will—is just something many teachers acknowledge as being present. They just want to get on with their jobs…Whether [anyone within the administration] believes it or not is anyone's guess." However, officials from the WRDSB responded with an initial statement on June 6, saying the workshop simply "explored how different communities may experience public institutions differently, and how educators can be thoughtful and inclusive in their communication." However, the new statement released by the board several days later went further. What People Are Saying An online statement published by chair Maedith Radlein on behalf of the board on June 10 said: "In the past week trustees have been receiving emails stating that the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) is teaching that the word 'family' is racist. I would like to state categorically that this is not the case. The word 'family' and what it represents is integral to all we do. "A look at our website will reveal numerous references to family…A look at our policies and procedures will also reveal the intentional focus on family and the commitment to continue working to improve and strengthen collaboration between home and school. "The workshop referenced by the news article took place one and a half years ago. Since then, there has been no change in the quality of the partnership between school and families in that community, and therefore no basis for the accusation made in the article. Families have always been and will always be welcome in every school in the WRDSB; they are an integral part of school life." In addition, "the news article did not include the full context of the presentation," the board argued. The event was held to provide staff with "the professional development required" to carry out various policy approaches, such as Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy. It was "necessary to explore and understand the ever-changing and evolving nature of language and how it has affected the lived experiences of some of the families in the WRDSB." The statement also went on to "express regret for the racist hate mail directed at Dr. Laura Mae Lindo," who was not involved in the session, although a slide from one of her previous presentations was included. Radlein concluded by saying that the trustees stood by the commitment to the board's current strategic plan, which "was built using what we heard from students, staff, families and community members." What Happens Next It remains to be seen if the furor will die down with the release of the school board's statement.
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Teachers outraged as school district tells them innocent word is RACIST
A school district in Canada has defended a presentation which declared the use of the word 'family' problematic, due to its 'white supremacist' roots. The Waterloo Region District School Board in Ontario held a professional training session in November 2023 during which the word was said to imply 'values positions of [male] authority and hierarchy,' and 'nuclear family structure.' During the event, entitled Dismantling Whiteness at W-O: Words Matter, it claimed the word 'asks for obedience' with 'no room for questions or criticism,' and insinuates an 'expectation to prioritize family's needs and wants; sacrificing personal boundaries,' Juno News reported. The session went on to discuss the 'concept of whiteness' which 'allows white supremacy to flourish.' The Board, however, bizarrely defended the training in a statement this month - almost two years after the event - and said that the presentation had been taken out of context. 'The excerpts shared were part of a larger professional development session designed to deepen understanding around language, systemic bias, and how we can work together to ensure all students and families feel seen, respected and included,' a statement said. Maedith Radlein, chair of the Waterloo Region District School Board, told CBC K-W's The Morning Edition that the board had since received many messages of concern regarding reports of the training session. 'That screenshot was interpreted to mean that what was being said was that we are against family. That screenshot was, in fact, part of a larger presentation that was a discussion about language,' she said. '[People] are, of course, very upset because if that was indeed a message it would be something to be very concerned about. 'I would like to unequivocally state that that is not our message. We value families and we work with them every day as we seek to help their students achieve and enjoy their school experience.' The statement said the information in the presentation was 'developed and informed by' Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy, the Ministry of Education's Anti-Black Racism Strategy, and the Ontario College of Teacher's Professional Advisory on Anti-Black Racism. It furthered that the training sessions explored how differently public institutions can be experienced by different communities, and 'how educators an be thoughtful and inclusive in their communication.' 'Our continued learning and professional development is also informed by the Ontario Human Right's Commission's Tackling anti-Black racism and discrimination in education report,' the release said. The report referenced by the board, Dreams Delayed: Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in Ontario's Public Education System, detailed the role that public educational institutions can play in dismantling and correcting harmful practices, specifically for people of color within their communities. A source told the outlet: 'Teachers just want to get on with their job of teaching. Ideology—if you will—is just something many teachers acknowledge as being present. They just want to get on with their jobs.' Rebel News editor Tamara Ugolini said, in a video posted about the training: 'Putting a wedge between children and their families, and teaching people that that family unit, your social safety net, which lies inherently in a strong family unit, is harmful and racist is absolutely absurd.' 'When someone's telling you that the term 'family' is rooted in white supremacy and to dismantle the family unit because it's rooted in patriarchy, you can tell them where to go,' Ugolini added. The board's defensive stance on the training session stirred outrage online, as users also condemned their vilification of the word. One said: 'That is OFFENSIVE to the highest degree!!!! 'Family' is in no way harmful!! There are many types of families, but Family is the most important thing in our society!!!!!' 'I wouldn't even put it as high as ideology. It's destruction of the building block of society,' another wrote. 'Family is a unit fundamental to societies across religious systems and regions. Why is Canada destroying ALL values?' Another commented: 'Calling 'family' harmful & rooted in white supremacy is troubling. Family is a core value in cultures worldwide, including Hinduism, part of one of the world's oldest civilizations. Why teach kids to question something so universally meaningful? This framing risks erasing cultural wisdom. What's the end goal here?' The Waterloo Region District School Board did not immediately respond to request for comment. The board further defended their position and said: 'WRDSB is committed to a quality public education system and to continuing the work of building a school district that centres student achievement, well-being and creating a sense of belonging in partnership with students and their parents, caregivers and families,' the statement furthered. 'We are committed to transparent, respectful dialogue and are always available to answer questions or discuss concerns.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The word 'family' has caused controversy for this Ontario school board. Here's why
The Waterloo Region District School Board has been talking a lot about the word "family" this month. The board has released two separate statements so far in June after media reports and rumours circulated online that teachers were being taught the word "family" is racist. It stems from a professional development day training session in November 2023 when teachers from Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School near Baden, Ont., discussed several words and what they meant to students, the school board says. Screengrabs from a presentation called "Dismantling Whiteness at W-O: Words Matter" have appeared on alternative media sites such as Juno News and Rebel News. The photo of a slide show presentation shows that the word family has been "identified as harmful by our racialized students." The Juno News headline reads: "School board trains staff that the term 'family' is harmful, racist." In a video report, which was posted to YouTube on June 6, Rebel News senior editor Tamara Ugolini was critical of the board. "When someone's telling you that the term 'family' is rooted in white supremacy and to dismantle the family unit because it's rooted in patriarchy, you can tell them where to go," Ugolini says on the video. Maedith Radlein, chair of the Waterloo Region District School Board, says the training materials reprinted by those media outlets were shared out of context "and interpreted incorrectly." "That screenshot was interpreted to mean that what was being said was that we are against family. That screenshot was, in fact, part of a larger presentation that was a discussion about language," Radlein told CBC K-W's The Morning Edition host Craig Norris on Wednesday. Radlein says people have been emailing board staff and trustees and "are, of course, very upset because if that was indeed a message it would be something to be very concerned about." "I would like to unequivocally state that that is not our message. We value families and we work with them every day as we seek to help their students achieve and enjoy their school experience," she said. LISTEN | : 2 statements The school board issued its first statement on June 6, stating they were aware of the media reports and wanted to clarify and provide context around what had been reported. "The session explored how different communities may experience public institutions differently, and how educators can be thoughtful and inclusive in their communication," the statement said. "These discussions are part of our ongoing commitment to human rights, equity and learning." The second statement was released June 10. It was a letter to the community from Radlein in which she noted "the word 'family' and what it represents is integral to all we do." The alternative media reports say the training was offered by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF). Dave VandenBerg, president of OSSTF District 24, said in an email to CBC News that the slides in the Juno News post were not from a presentation created by the teacher's union. "All staff meetings include time for OSSTF. It seems that the inclusion of OSSTF time at the end of the meeting was misunderstood to mean that OSSTF created the presentation," he said. CBC News has requested information from the school board about who created the presentation but have not yet received a response. Reports linked to parental rights movement: Researcher Lisa Gasson-Gardner is an assistant professor of religious studies at Mount Royal University in Calgary and researches new religious movements. She says the messaging in the reporting of this story by alternative media outlets appears to be linked to the parental rights movement. "Folks who are concerned about critical race theory are also concerned about parents having rights, are also concerned about gender ideology," she said. Gasson-Gardner says grassroots groups who are part of this movement know how to communicate. They say things that "seem obviously true," like parents should be informed about what their children are learning about in school, but then there's an underlying message the average reader may miss. "Consider that, when we say, 'Oh, we want to have a neutral classroom or a politics-free classroom,' what is neutral that we don't talk about?" she said. Gasson-Gardner says parental rights groups are good at mobilizing and she's seen evidence they've worked to get people elected to school boards in Alberta and Ontario. That's why she says it's important to understand who the people are who run for these positions, especially with Ontario municipal elections set for October 2026. "If you care about education, you have to pay attention to what's happening," she said. Aim to create 'moral panic' Carmen Celestini is a full-time lecturer of religious studies at the University of Waterloo. She says there are also groups who are attempting to create "moral panic" around critical race theory in education. Critical race theory is the idea that racial bias is inherent in certain systems, including legal and social institutions. She says the arguments being made in the reports by alternative media are similar to anti-critical race theory posts in the U.S. They "believe that [critical race theory] is an attack on national values and beliefs. Those values are expressed in their beliefs and values with little concern for others," Celestini said. "The school board should respond and be transparent in addressing issues such as this," Celestini said. "Yet, those who believe these negative narratives most likely have distrust in the institutions such as education and legacy media, so the board will not be converting the mindset of those who believe this, but will engage those who may have heard about this." Board 'meeting the needs of all students' Radlein said the training session on language took place on a professional development day and they looked at a number of words. Family was one of the words. "The message was that the word family does not mean the same thing to everybody," Radlein said. Radlein said school board staff need to educate themselves and be aware of where they may be assuming something about students or have an unconscious bias. She says this isn't the first time the board has been a target for people who don't agree with their philosophies. "I certainly think that the initiatives that our board does around truth and reconciliation, around equity, about gender identification and orientation, I certainly think that that is a lightning rod for many groups that have differing opinions," Radlein said. "I cannot speak as to why this is happening, but I do know that we are a board that is known for our commitment to meeting the needs of all students, to welcoming everybody, no matter who they are. And some people may not agree with that approach."
