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EMSB Schools Mark Pride Month

Lester B. Pearson High School celebrates with a lunch carnival
On May 17 (International day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia), Lester B. Pearson High School’s student council celebrated inclusivity with a lunch carnival.
Montreal - Thursday, June 29, 2023

The English Montreal School Board embraced Pride Month in June, with a number of schools organizing activities.

Merton on Diversity and Inclusion

Merton on Diversity and Inclusion

A Pride Parade was held June 14 at Merton Elementary School in Côte St. Luc to mark their Pride Week celebration.

A Pride Parade was held June 14 at Merton Elementary School in Côte St. Luc to mark their Pride Week celebration. The parade, widely attended by parents, went in a colourful show around the block, with children in different grades wearing the different colours of the rainbow.

While learning related to diversity and inclusion takes place throughout the year following the sexuality education component of the Quebec Education Plan, Principal Rosana Caplan explained this was the second year the school has held a Pride Week. “As with all the other aspects of our learning, we encourage an open mind and teach children to develop a curious approach rather than a judgemental one,” she said.

During the week, each grade level celebrated a different theme. Kindergarten through Grade 2 students focused on “Families are Families,” while Grade 3 and 4 classes did activities related to “Love is Love” and fifth and sixth graders, “I am Me.”

Westmount Park School does a rainbow walk through the park

Westmount Park School does a rainbow walk through the park

The Grade 6 Leadership Club at Westmount Park Elementary School was the driving force behind a school-wide activity during Pride Month.

The Grade 6 Leadership Club at Westmount Park Elementary School was the driving force behind a school-wide activity during Pride Month.

The Grade 6 Leadership Club at Westmount Park Elementary School was the driving force behind a school-wide activity during Pride Month. “We would like to take a stand for love and remind everyone in our community that they are loved and accepted. WPS does not discriminate!” they wrote in their proposal, which led to a beautiful rainbow walk through nearby Westmount Park on June 15.

Each grade was encouraged to wear a different coloured shirt to make up the colours of the rainbow and create posters encouraging love and acceptance. To cap it off, students formed a giant rainbow in the field for a photo.

Lester B. Pearson High School celebrates with a lunch carnival

On May 17 (International day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia), Lester B. Pearson High School’s student council celebrated inclusivity with a lunch carnival. Students were encouraged to wear purple and were offered multi-coloured cotton candy and slushes, face painting and temporary tattoos. The library created a display of LGBTQ books.

During Pride Month, the book display was updated with different books and a pride bench was presented by the student council. Students also played games and enjoyed pride-themed cookies.

Bancroft creates flags and posters for May 17

A Pride Parade was held June 14 at Merton Elementary School in Côte St. Luc to mark their Pride Week celebration.

Bancroft Elementary School dedicated the day on May 17 to recognize international day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia with guest speakers and a walk around the school with Pride flags and posters, organized by the Rainbow Club kids.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School in Rosemount students made a large Pride banner that was posted in their glass case as people enter the building.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School in Rosemount students made a large Pride banner that was posted in their glass case as people enter the building. One of the teachers wore a  Montreal Canadiens t-shirt number 31 and on the back it  said “Pride” instead of “Price.”

Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School in Rosemount students made a large Pride banner that was posted in their glass case as people enter the building.

About the English Montreal School Board

With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 73 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.