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Red Deer Catholic school trustee won't face dismissal despite backlash over
social media post | CBC News Loaded
Edmonton
RED DEER CATHOLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEE WON'T FACE DISMISSAL DESPITE BACKLASH OVER
SOCIAL MEDIA POST
A Catholic school board in Red Deer has ruled that a trustee who likened LGBTQ
pride to Nazi Germany won’t be removed, despite violating its Trustee Code of
Conduct and the Education Act.
MONIQUE LAGRANGE BROKE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LIKENING LGBTQ PRIDE TO NAZI GERMANY
Aaron Sousa · CBC News · Posted: Sep 27, 2023 4:39 PM PDT | Last Updated:
September 27
Monique LaGrange, a trustee of Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools who likened
LGBTQ pride to Nazi Germany, won't be removed from her role. (Red Deer Catholic
Regional Schools)
SOCIAL SHARING
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A Catholic school board in Red Deer, Alta., ruled Tuesday that a trustee who
likened LGBTQ pride to Nazi Germany won't be removed from her role, despite her
violating its Trustee Code of Conduct and the Education Act.
Monique LaGrange, a trustee of Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS), took
to Facebook toward the end of August to share a now-deleted meme that featured a
picture of children waving Nazi flags above a picture of children waving Pride
flags.
"Brainwashing is brainwashing," the post read.
LaGrange has been facing calls from the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) and
the Central Alberta Pride Society to apologize for her comments and step down
from the board.
BANNED FROM COMMITTEE MEETINGS
At a meeting held Tuesday, the board found LaGrange violated the Trustee Code of
Conduct and Alberta's Education Act, but ruled she would not be removed as a
trustee.
Instead, LaGrange is censured from attending or participating in committee
meetings, including those held by the Alberta School Boards Association and the
Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association, which has already removed
LaGrange from her role as a director.
She also can't officially represent the board or school division in public or
make statements about the LGBTQ community and the Holocaust.
Monique LaGrange's now-deleted Instagram post featured a picture of children
waving Nazi flags above a picture of children waving Pride flags with the
caption "brainwashing is brainwashing." (@monique_lagrange/Instagram)
She is, however, still allowed to attend regular board meetings and bring
forward "educational-related issues" for discussion or debate.
The provisions began Tuesday and will remain in place until the end of
LaGrange's term in the fall of 2025.
LaGrange declined an interview and directed CBC News to her lawyer.
According to the motion, the censure could be removed if the board's terms and
conditions are met to the satisfaction of the board and if LaGrange acts in
accordance with board policy and the Trustee Code of Conduct.
LaGrange is required to successfully complete sensitivity training about the
Holocaust and LGBTQ discrimination, as well as training that covers professional
school trustee boundaries and appropriate use of social media, cultural
sensitivity and human rights.
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wishes
"The above training is intended to remind the trustee of her role and
responsibilities as a school board trustee and to assist the trustee to make
better decisions in any further communications, including on social media," the
motion concluded.
LaGrange must also issue a sincere public apology to school division students,
staff and the board that recognizes the "inappropriateness" of her actions and
that she is "deeply sorry for having offended anyone through her actions."
In an interview with CBC News on Wednesday, board chair Murray Hollman said the
board would launch another trustee code of conduct complaint if LaGrange does
not follow through with the outlined provisions.
Murray Hollman, board chair of Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, said
LaGrange's views do not represent the official stance of the board. (Submitted
by Murray Hollman)
When asked if the board is worried that the public may perceive its decision as
siding with LaGrange's views, he said that was a concern and that the board is
taking actions to collectively resolve the matter.
"That's our role as trustees; to be in the community and really hammer hard back
the commitment that we are welcoming, caring, respectful and have safe learning
environments within our division," said Hollman.
WORKSHOPS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
The board has asked superintendent Kathleen Finnigan to arrange meetings and
educational workshops for trustees with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre
and Alberta Human Rights Commission.
The board will also take part in workshops that look at taking "a pastoral
approach" to supporting students in the development and understanding of their
sexuality.
"Trustee LaGrange's social media post does not align with principles and values
that guide our division. Trustee LaGrange's views do not represent the official
stance of the board," Hollman said.
"We deeply regret any distress that these comments may have caused."
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Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides — who previously condemned
LaGrange's post and confirmed to CBC News that the board had "full authority and
autonomy" to disqualify a sitting trustee — said all school boards are required
to develop a trustee code of conduct.
"It is the responsibility of each school board to determine whether a trustee
has violated that code of conduct and if so, decide how they want to deal with
the matter," he said in a statement Wednesday.
"The board has the authority and independence to manage its own affairs and I
respect their autonomy."
ATA APPRECIATES SEVERITY; PRIDE SOCIETY 'DISHEARTENED'
Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, said he
appreciates that the allegations against Monique LaGrange were taken seriously.
(Aaron Sousa/CBC)
Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling, who previously called
LaGrange's comments "repugnant," said that he has respect for the board's
process and that the allegations were taken seriously.
"Ideally, I would have liked to have seen trustee LaGrange resign, but I
appreciate the severity of some of the consequences that the board has put on
this trustee," he said, adding that the ruling to limit LaGrange's trustee
abilities "makes sense."
Still, Schilling said LaGrange has some learning to do and believes she needs to
be fired if she doesn't comply with the board's provisions.
"If you're going to [speak] mistruths and misinformation about 2SLGBTQ+ students
and staff and what's happening in our public schools across this province, then
you should not be representing the board," he said.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Central Alberta Pride Society said members are
"saddened and disheartened" by the board's decision.
The society feels that while the resolution requests are "somewhat adequate,"
it's not enough.
"We still want her removed, whether voluntarily or involuntarily," the statement
reads, saying an appearance and speech during a 1 Million March 4 Children rally
in Red Deer on Sept. 20 "speaks volumes" to her beliefs.
"No level of courses or training will change her beliefs toward the LGBTQ2S+
community."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aaron Sousa
Reporter
Aaron is a reporter with CBC Edmonton. Originally from Fredericton, N.B., he was
editor-in-chief of his campus newspaper, The Aquinian. He enjoys creative
writing, poetry, photography and music. He can be reached at aaron.sousa@cbc.ca.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News
Corrections and clarifications|Submit a news tip|Report error
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