'It's heartbreaking': Pride flag incident causes cancellation of crosswalk event
Waterdown's Jennifer Valeri is expressing her disappointment with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton police after an alleged hate-based incident at Allan A. Greenleaf Elementary School has left the family terrorized" and terrified."
Valeri alleged a threat was made to burn the family's house down on April 8 due to their continued flying of a Pride flag - and also alleged the same individual spit on a Pride flag at the school and wrote I hate Pride" on a blackboard.
As a result, Valeri, who has championed two rainbow crosswalks at the entrance to Waterdown District High School, Allan A. Greenleaf Elementary School and the Flamborough Family YMCA, and the adjacent intersection of Parkside Drive and Keewaydin Street, has decided to cancel a reception event to celebrate the installation.
The crosswalks grew out of an incident where a Pride flag belonging to Valeri's daughter Hannah, who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, was torn down at Valeri's Waterdown home in 2021. That incident sparked a community event where more than 250 Pride flags were handed out.
She said following the latest alleged incident, it does not feel safe to hold an event where numerous members of the LGBTQ+ community would be present. Instead, she will hold a simple photo-op with stakeholders on May 19.
It's incredibly disappointing," she said, noting there was the potential for 300 to 500 people to take part and her goal for the event was to connect Waterdown youth with different LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ-adjacent organizations.
It's heartbreaking," she said.
Valeri said that while she called police on the evening the threat was made, she was not contacted by school administration about the incident.
The family later met with administration and Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board staff, who, she said, apologized for having not told her about the incident. She said superintendent Gerry Smith then provided her with a newly minted protocol for HWDSB staff to deal with hate-based incidents.
However, Valeri said the school could not provide her with any information about the incident, citing privacy concerns.
In a statement provided to the Review, Smith said the board is aware of the incident.
Administrators at Allan A. Greenleaf Elementary School took immediate action when informed of an incident that was against Safe School policies," he said. Due to privacy considerations, we are unable to disclose details of the specific case."
Smith added that prejudice and discrimination will not be tolerated in HWDSB schools.
We prioritize the well-being of students and families when their right to a safe school environment is impacted," he continued. When acts of hate, bias or prejudice occur in our schools they are addressed with the families involved.
Every HWDSB student has the right to a safe and inclusive learning environment where their human rights are upheld."
In a letter shared with the school community, Allan A. Greenleaf principal Stephen Yull referenced a recent incident that has affected the school culture," adding the situation references an act of prejudice and discrimination and has the classification of a hate crime."
Yull added anyone who violates the school's Code of Conduct will be subject to progressive discipline measures and there are defined consequences to specific student behaviours that result in immediate suspension or expulsion."
Valeri said she is also disappointed in Hamilton police, as the family was told charges were forthcoming but were never laid. An arrest, she felt, would offer her family protection.
In an email, Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman confirmed there was an investigation into an incident at Allan A. Greenleaf Elementary School regarding a Pride flag."
The incident resulted in pre-charge diversion for the accused youth," she said. Penman explained the extrajudicial measure is designed to provide an effective response to offending behaviour and encourage young offenders to acknowledge and repair the harm caused to the victim and the community.
Penman added extrajudicial measures also encourage the involvement of families and members of the community in designing and implementing measures directed at the offending young person." She said victims can also participate in these decisions and receive reparation.
Hamilton police take incidents like these extremely seriously and use all tools to impose consequences," Penman said in an email. In this case, the officer needed to look at alternative measures before moving to judicial action."