Motion on Pride Flag leads to chaos at board meeting
Chaos at last night's Niagara Catholic District School board meeting.
The board was set to address a motion to amend its flag flying protocol to specify that the Pride flag not be flown on school properties or district offices.
The motion was brought forward by trustee Natalia Benoit.
About 100 people attended the meeting, most of them in support of the motion.
Two delegations were approved to speak and visitors were asked to respect the rules of decorum while speakers presented, which included not filming the presentations.
During a presentation by Jennifer MacArthur, President of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association’s Niagara Elementary Unit, one individual was repeatedly asked to stop filming, but continued to and was ultimately asked to leave but refused.
The individual became belligerent and continued filming, used profanity, and entered the chamber.
Other members of the gallery began jeering MacArthur, trustees, and staff.
As result of the chaos, a recess was called to clear the gallery and move staff and trustees in attendance to secure location and Niagara Regional Police were called.
Officers arrived a short time later and began removing individuals from the Board Room, the foyer of the Catholic Education Centre, and the chapel.
The meeting resumed with an empty gallery at approximately 7:30 p.m. and the livestream continued.
Trustee Benoit’s motion was introduced, debated, and ultimately defeated by a 5-2 recorded vote.
Both student trustees also voted against the motion, with non-binding votes.
Chair Danny Di Lorenzo, Vice-Chair Rhianon Burkholder, and trustees Larry Huibers, Jim Marino, and
Paul Turner voted against the motion, as did the student trustees.
Trustees Benoit and Joe Bruzzese supported the motion.
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