OPP investigates rainbow crosswalk degradation at Orillia school

After its installation just a week ago, the Orillia High School (OSS) rainbow crosswalk was vandalized over the weekend, Orillia OPP officials say.

One end of the crosswalk, meant to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, was daubed with white paint and traffic cones and warning tape were installed around the vandalized area on Monday morning.

OPP Const. Brett Boniface said police are actively investigating the matter.

The OPP will look into the incident as a potentially hate crime, which Boniface distinguished from hate crimes.

“The term hate crime is largely misused – we have what we call hate crimes,” he explained. “There are very specific crimes in the Criminal Code that can be considered hate crimes. With something like this, there’s a lens we use: Is it motivated by hate or bias? We would look at it from that lens.”

Last week, an OSS student shared his concerns about increased targeting and bullying of LGBTQ+ students after the school’s Canadian flag was replaced with the Pride flag for Pride Month, calling for the flag to be taken down or displayed alongside the Canadian flag in a petition.

Boniface said it was “unfortunate” that the students felt targeted for their identity and stressed that people have a right to express who they are.

“It’s unfortunate that people have this feeling and that they don’t feel safe. It is important that everyone feels safe and that everyone can express themselves as they wish,” he said.

“That’s what our Canadian rights and freedoms are, and that’s something the police strongly support,” Boniface said.

Arrangements are being made to repair the crosswalk, Simcoe County School District officials said, adding that creating a safe environment for all is a priority.

“We are committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming and supportive school environment at Orillia Secondary School and recognize that all students have the right to be safe and feel safe in our school community,” said board manager Sarah Kekewich student of the school. communications, who encouraged anyone with information about the incident to contact the OPP or Crime Stoppers.

“We continue to work with students, staff, parents/guardians and community partners to ensure that Orillia Secondary School is the safe place it is intended to be for all students,” Kekewich said. “Information about this incident has been shared with families and affected students have been invited to visit the guidance department should they need support.”

Caleb Kenehan, president of Fierté Simcoe Pride, said he was “saddened to hear of the degradation of an important symbol of inclusion.”

“When there is vandalism against symbols of inclusion, it sends a profound message that someone is not welcome for who they are,” Kenehan said. “Therefore, in taking disability seriously, you are also taking seriously the value of inclusion in education.”

Kenehan said Fierté Simcoe Pride views these types of incidents as hateful and encouraged school boards to continue to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.

“Fierté Simcoe Pride also encourages local school boards to continue to show support for the 2SLGBTQIA community, even in the face of criticism or vandalism,” he said. “We believe that the value of inclusion in the school system has a powerful impact on the well-being of 2SLGBTQIA students.”

Hate crimes around sexuality and gender “have been on the rise” and have nearly doubled in the past two years, Kenehan said, citing Statistics Canada reports.

“Fierté Simcoe Pride recognizes this and takes this seriously,” he said. “Some of the actions we have taken include signing up to Momentum’s Facts Over Fear campaign in response to the growing anti-2SLGBTQIA rhetoric. We also prioritize inclusive 2SLGBTQIA programming for youth both during pride season and throughout the year.”