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By Caden Fanshaw

SD 57

SOGI speech leads to outburst at SD57 board meeting

Apr 26, 2023 | 10:01 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – The regular School District 57 Board of Education meeting was held Tuesday night with a full gallery with over a dozen people standing and observing.

Presentations from stakeholders were allowed at this April meeting contrary to the regular board meeting held in February when members from CUPE, the PGDTA, and DPAC wer denied the opportunity to present.

A presentation geared towards Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) from Daryl Beauregard, President of the PG District Teachers Association, was given at the start of the meeting.

During that presentation Beauregard recited stats from several Canadian studies claiming a high number of students part of the LGBTQ2S+ were considering self-harm and severe bullying in schools across the country, a feeling he added is unfortunately true in SD57 buildings.

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Towards the end of Beauregard’s presentation, he called on SD57 Trustees to stand by SOGI policy. and consider denouncing or discouraging anti-SOGI candidates from running in the upcoming byelection on June 17. The PGDTA President noted other districts in BC have taken action against anti-SOGI groups such as ‘Action4Canada’ by banning the group and members to speak at public meetings.

During this segment of Beauregard’s address to the board, a member of the public standing in the corner of the room began yelling and said “you are breeding these kids to be what this guy is, a little dictator,” further adding “you guys should be ashamed of yourselves” before exiting the building.

SD57 Board Chair Rachael Weber called order during that exchange several times, but ultimately asked all members of the public and media to leave the board room for several minutes for an impromptu recess.

The remainder of the board meeting continued without any disruption.