Students disciplined after pride week incident at Frank Maddock

Wild Rose School Division is treating an incident that took place at Frank Maddock High School as a possible hate crime. 

Students were encouraged last Friday to dress up in rainbow, or any colours of the rainbow, to show support for Pride Week and the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance.  

Superintendent of schools for WRSD Brad Volkman says the group had set up a table with pamplets and information for those who wanted them, or students who wanted to talk.

At lunch GSA members left the table to go eat. Volkman says during that time two students grabbed a rainbow sun shade that was being used as a prop for the event, took it out into the parking lot and threw it onto the ground, with vehicles eventually driving over it.

Volkman says those students’ actions directly violated WRSD’s Policies, with procedure 2.1 of Student Behaviour and Conduct outlining that “The Board expects students to conduct themselves in a number of manners,” including section 11 that states “Demonstrate respect for diversity regardless of race, age, ancestry, place of origin, colour, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, marital status, family status, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation.”

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Volkman notes, “We won’t tolerate any type of bullying. Every student deserves to be respected and protected. There were some very upset students.”

He adds staff at the high school held an assembly immediately after the incident to address what happened, something he says was well-handled and helped to calm any worries students may have had.

“That was a good call. To hold an assembly where every student was called in and told that it wasn’t ok to do this, I thought that was really good.”

Volkman says the students involved were dealt with that very day, and disciplined accordingly. 

Despite the unfortunate incident, Volkman reinforced the school division’s commitment to the promoting and inclusiveness of all types of clubs. 

“What’s important is our clubs promote diversity and acceptance, they are wonderful. We want all students to feel welcome. FMHS and WRSD support our Gay Straight Alliances, we welcome a tolerant, diverse and caring atmosphere.”