With the provincial government moving forward with amendments to Alberta's human rights legislation to include gender identity and gender expression, the Chinook's Edge School Division is nearing completion of its new sexual orientation and gender identity procedure, say officials.
The new procedure will outline the “scope, definitions and procedure specific to supporting sexual and gender minority staff, students and families.” The procedure is expected to be ready for adoption by the division by year's end.
Tane Skotheim, a family wellness worker at Olds High School, says developing the new procedure for Chinook's Edge is a good step.
“I think it's important for our students and our school community as well,” Skotheim told the Gazette. “Certainly Chinook's Edge wants to respect all of our students and we try to cultivate a culture of respect. We think that we are doing a good job ensuring that students' rights are being met, but we really want a policy and procedure that is specific to sexual orientation and gender identify.
“We need to ensure that students are comfortable and respected on all levels. It's something that we are more aware of and seeking more education around and knowledge about.
“We have recognized that we have a culture of children and youth, the LBGTQ children and youth, (and that) we don't have a specific policy for that group. We want to ensure that their rights are being protected as well.”
Teachers, students and staff, including family wellness workers, have been involved in making the new procedure, she explained.
Chinook's Edge board chairperson Colleen Butler echoed Skotheim's comments, saying putting the new procedure in place is an important step forward.
“We understand that there is a growing awareness of sexual orientation and gender identity among children and youth, and we are determined to provide specific supports for these students in our care,” said Butler.
“When we were informed that experts who work with the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer) community felt that an additional administrative procedure was recommended to support and protect this population of our students, we moved forward quickly.”
Chinook's Edge already has a policy in place outlining the board's expectations that “our schools be safe, caring and inclusive environments for everyone who enters,” she said.
“The board is committed to supporting all students, staff and families, including those from the LBGTQ community,” she said.
Based in Innisfail, Chinook's Edge School Division has 40 schools across Central Alberta, including in Mountain View and Red Deer counties.
Family school wellness workers from across the division recently attended a lecture by Dr. Kris Wells, a University of Alberta educator who has conducted extensive research on the LGBTQ community in Alberta.
“We know that our family wellness workers are often the professionals who our students approach first, but we have also scheduled Dr. Wells to present to all of our school-based administrators as well,” said Wanda Christensen, associate superintendent of student services.
The Alberta Human Rights Act currently states that “it is recognized in Alberta as a fundamental principle and as a matter of public policy that all persons are equal in dignity, rights and responsibilities without regard to race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation.”
The Bill 7 amendment introduced in the legislature on Nov. 19 would add “gender identity and gender expression” to that list.
“If passed, Bill 7 will empower the trans and gender variant community as they confront the stereotypes and discrimination that we know still exists. All Albertans deserve to be treated with equal dignity and respect,” said Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kathleen Ganley.
