BC School District Apologizes After ‘Inappropriate’ Material Given to Students at Pride Event

A workbook is seen on a student's desk in an elementary school classroom, in Vancouver on April 13, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A B.C. school district has apologized after “inappropriate” material was handed out by a third party to students at a recent district-organized Pride parade and festival.

The Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools district issued a letter on June 19 saying an “external organization” had handed out resources to youth at the June 17 event. The letter does not say what type of materials were distributed.

The district said it heard from three parents about the materials, which were at a booth at the youth Pride parade and festival. Media reports indicate the content advocated for “safe” use of illicit drugs.

Superintendent Robyn Gray apologized in the letter, saying the district was “taking steps to prevent this from happening again.”

The Pride event was organized by the district high schools’ Gay Straight Alliance clubs, and sponsoring teachers to “celebrate pride,” Gray said in the letter.

“This material had no place at this celebration. We have been in touch with the organization that distributed these resources, and they have apologized for bringing these materials to this event,” Gray wrote.

The Epoch Times contacted AIDS Vancouver Island, the organization responsible for the display, but did not hear back by publication time.

Gray said the district will review its processes and internal procedures for inviting external organizations to school events, and acknowledged its responsibility for the “inadequate oversight” of the materials that were distributed.

“In addition, we will be implementing more robust guidelines to ensure our district sanctioned events are always age appropriate,” she said.

The letter also said school counsellors would be available to any students wishing to further discuss the incident.

‘Safer Snorting’ Kits in Cowichan

A similar incident happened in the Cowichan Valley School District in 2023, when students were given “safer snorting” kits after a third-party presentation on drugs.

The kits contained information about hard drugs, such as cocaine, and included a picture of a straw hovering above a line of white powder. Inside the kits were tubes for snorting and cards to make lines of drugs.

The school district issued an apology at the time, saying the kits had been provided by a third-party presenter. The district also said it did not consider the kits to be “school or age appropriate.”

A statement from the district said it supported a harm reduction method to drug addiction, but that it aimed to ensure the teachings about the approach were “appropriate for our students.” The district also said it would review its policies on third-party presenters.

BC Decriminalization Project

The incidents within the school districts have taken place following recent changes in the province’s drug policies.

The province decriminalized small amounts of hard drugs in 2023 in coordination with the federal government, before reversing course a year later.

A pilot project was approved by Health Canada for exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, to permit possession in British Columbia of up to 2.5 mg of hard drugs, like cocaine and opioids.

The government was struggling to curb public drug use just 10 months into the pilot at locations like playgrounds, parks, and beaches.

Premier David Eby’s government introduced legislation that would prohibit public use, but permit use in private spaces. However, the B.C. Supreme Court blocked the legislation.

Eby then asked Health Canada to amend the exemption in April 2024 to prohibit public drug use. The federal government approved B.C.’s request to exempt public spaces from its decriminalization project a month later.

It now permits law enforcement to seize any illegal drugs found in public spaces, and to make arrests or take other actions such as issuing warnings.