Teacher removed from a Chelsea, Que. elementary classroom for wearing a hijab
Parents and students at an elementary school in Chelsea, Que. say they are shocked a teacher was removed from the classroom for wearing a hijab.
The Western Quebec School Board confirms the Grade 3 teacher at Chelsea Elementary School was removed from the classroom because of Bill 21, Quebec's law that bans the wearing of religious symbols by certain government employees deemed to be in positions of authority while at work.
Parents of Grade 3 students at the school received an email on Friday, Dec. 3 letting them know the teacher would no longer be in the classroom. Some parents later learned the teacher was removed because of Bill 21.
"It's shocking as a parent to see this come into action within our small little community," said parent Amanda DeGrace.
"Now to have to have conversations we've had with our kids before, but actually have conversations that they're able to connect the dots of something they're seeing happening in real time and in real life, and it is very sad to me that we're seeing Bill 21 come into action and the impact that it's having on everyone involved."
Quebec's Bill 21 came into effect in June 2019, and prohibits public-sector workers who are deemed to be in positions of authority from wearing symbols such as hijabs, kippahs or turbans while at work.
This week, parents have been placing green ribbons on a fence outside the school in support of the teacher.
"As a way to help show support and solidarity with this teacher who has been affected by this Bill 21," said DeGrace.
"We are asking people to please speak up. It's really, really important as a community that we help to create change and we take action for that change to happen."
In an interview with CTV News Ottawa, Western Quebec School Board interim chair Wayne Daly said the board removed the teacher from the classroom once the human resources department was made aware of the situation.
"The majority of the western Quebecers I've spoken to are against Bill 21, we've made our intentions and our feelings known to the government," said Daly.
"Subsequent to that, the government did proceed with the bill and it is law now, and as a section of the education system within the government it is our responsibility to follow the laws of the province."
All principals at schools within the Western Quebec School Board received a memo outlining the law and to "take it into consideration when you're hiring teachers," said Daly.
Daly says the board told the Quebec government that it "categorically stated our opposition to Bill 21 from the basic human rights perspective," adding the law is "unethical."
The Western Quebec School Board says the teacher will remain employed with the school in "another function," but would not release further details.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.