By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

more details revealed

Red Deer Catholic releases official report on former trustee’s dismissal

Nov 24, 2023 | 6:54 PM

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools has released the official report on why it disqualified now former school trustee Monique LaGrange.

It was revealed Nov. 14 that LaGrange, elected in 2021, had been disqualified as a trustee. At the time, the school division was not at liberty to reveal what the specific reasons were that led to the dismissal.

However, rdnewsNOW had learned that night, via LaGrange’s legal counsel James Kitchen, that a second Code of Conduct complaint had been made against her. The complaint was partly in relation to a media interview she did on a show called Talk Truth, despite prior sanctions barring her from doing any media. But the breaches of the original sanctions, doled out Sept. 26, run deeper.

Read our extensive coverage of this matter here:

• After second Code of Conduct complaint, Red Deer Catholic removes trustee
• Red Deer Catholic trustee invoked Holy Spirit in explanation for posting controversial meme
• Lawyer: Red Deer school trustee likely won’t follow through on training & apology
• Monique LaGrange won’t be removed as Red Deer Catholic trustee
• Trustee LaGrange removed as ACSTA director, Minister of Education also speaks
• Red Deer Catholic writes Education Minister on dismissal of trustee who posted Nazi, 2SLGBTQ+ comparison
• Red Deer Catholic school trustee likens Pride movement to Nazism

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The original sanctions were in connection to LaGrange finding herself the centre of controversy at the start of September, after she posted an offensive meme to a social media account, which Red Deer Catholic now says occurred around Aug. 27.

“Brainwashing is brainwashing,” the meme was captioned, with one image of kids waving Nazi flags and another featuring children with rainbow Pride flags.

At the time of her dismissal, Red Deer Catholic promised a full report on or before today, Nov. 24.

Board Chair Murray Hollman reiterated Friday that, “This was a decision not made lightly. As a board, we are committed to our mission of continuing to foster and maintain welcoming, safe, caring, and respectful learning environments for all students, staff and families.”

In the official report released Friday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m., details other than the Talk Truth interview are revealed.

Excerpt from report:

On September 28, 2023, the Respondent posted two items on her personal Facebook page:

• a) the first depicting a wolf wearing facial make-up and licking its lips, with the caption, “I just want to read some books to your chickens”; and
• b) a photograph of a non-binary author with the caption, “‘Parental rights really anger me’ non-binary children books author pushes back against parents.” (both of which are attached hereto as Appendix “D”)

At the (eventual) Second Code of Conduct Hearing, the Respondent’s legal counsel indicated item b) was a news article, not a meme and further, that the Respondent was sharing a news article about an individual who identifies as non-binary. This item is attached hereto as Appendix “E”.

Following the Sept. 28 social media posts, Board Chair Hollman advised LaGrange that her issues with the board were “serious” and that should she breach her sanctions, it would result in another complaint and possibly disqualification.

Then, on Oct. 2, it became evident that LaGrange had conducted an interview with Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson, purportedly recorded sometime between Sept. 26, when the sanctions were handed out, and Oct. 1.

The Talk Truth interview than aired Oct. 19 online.

The report notes LaGrange told Talk Truth she’d “still post” the original meme again, adding that, “People need to wake up. They seriously do and parents need to know what’s going on.”

LaGrange went on to tell Talk Truth:

Quote from Monique LaGrange on Talk Truth, on Oct. 19, 2023, via the Nov. 24 Red Deer Catholic report.

The report goes on to indicate that a story about LaGrange was published by LifeSite on Sept. 27, featuring an interview with Kitchen, not LaGrange. A similar story, also featuring Kitchen, was published by True North Canada News on Sept. 28.

Red Deer Catholic says LaGrange participated virtually in the second Code of Conduct hearing. Legal counsel submitted written and oral arguments.

It’s also revealed that it was Trustee Sharla Heistad who made the second complaint against LaGrange.

LaGrange was ultimately disqualified under Section 87 and Section 90 of the Education Act. Section 90-Resignation on disqualification states: “If a person is disqualified under section 87 or 88 from remaining as a trustee of the board, the person shall immediately resign.”

Legal counsel told rdnewsNOW on Nov. 14 that they are taking LaGrange’s disqualification to a judicial review, a date for which is yet to be revealed.

As noted previously, LaGrange is a distant relative to former Red Deer Catholic trustee and current provincial Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, as confirmed by her press secretary to rdnewsNOW in September.

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