South Shore education centre reverses decision that banned flying diverse flags

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 26, 2025 7:54 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 minutes ago

The South Shore Regional Centre for Education has reversed its decision to allow only Canada and Nova Scotia flags to alert extracurricular South Shore schools and is apologizing for the move.

"Our volition has ever been to amusement the utmost respect for the flags and banners that are flown astatine our schools," the centre's enforcement manager Angela Gladwin wrote successful a post on its website Wednesday.

"After proceeding the concerns of schoolhouse communities, we are instantly reinstating the flying of assorted diverseness flags extracurricular our schoolhouse buildings."

Gladwin explained the "temporary changes" — communicated to schools successful a directive on Friday — were implemented to "gain a amended knowing of emblem protocols" portion the centre was successful the process of replacing damaged flags. The schools were asked to show each different flags indoors.

The caput of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union told The Canadian Press many members were upset flags representing Mi'kmaw, African Nova Scotian, LGBTQ+ and different communities were ordered to beryllium taken down.

On Tuesday, Nova Scotia Education Minister Brendan Maguire said helium would tell South Shore schools that they were expected to resume flying flags representing divers communities.

Gladwin said diverseness flags and banners person already started to beryllium moved backmost outdoors astatine immoderate schools. She said the centre is continuing to reappraisal the "proper protocols" for flying flags to guarantee each schools person flags that are successful bully condition.

"I sincerely apologize to each those wounded by the impermanent relocation. We person learned a batch from this acquisition and we are committed to rebuilding relationships that person been affected," Gladwin wrote.

"It remains precise important to SSRCE that our schools and enactment sites proceed to make inclusive environments that some admit and respect our divers communities."