The Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, presided over by Justice Cheryl Arcand-Kootenay, has upheld the decision made by the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) Board of Trustees to apply sanctions to former Trustee Monique LaGrange, finding that it was reasonable for the Board to determine that LaGrange’s actions contravened the Education Act and RDCRS Board policies. The judicial ruling confirms the Board acted appropriately in its response to a social media post shared by LaGrange in August 2023.
The judicial review stemmed from a controversial meme shared by LaGrange on or about August 27, 2023, featuring an image of children holding Nazi flags with swastikas above an image of children holding Pride flags, which was accompanied by the caption “Brainwashing is brainwashing.” This post prompted significant concern regarding its implications and alignment with the Board’s values and policies.
Justice Arcand-Kootenay concluded that the RDCRS Board’s decision was reasonable and confirmed the decision (Section 133). She also quashed sanctions 1(d)(i) through (iii) due to redundancy, and removed the word “sincere” in sanction 1(e) as “it is not measurable by any objective standard.”
“We are grateful for the Court’s decision, as it reaffirms our commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all students and staff. This judgment underscores the importance of our policies and our collective responsibility as trustees to uphold them in the service of our community,” said Murray Hollman, RDCRS Board Chair.
The RDCRS Board of Trustees remains committed to fostering a Christ-centred, respectful, and equitable learning environment. The Board appreciates the community’s ongoing support and continues to prioritize the well-being of all students and staff within the division.
RDCRS is currently awaiting Justice Arcand-Kootenay’s decision regarding the second Judicial Review, which was related to Trustee LaGrange’s disqualification. RDCRS remains committed to transparency and will continue to keep stakeholders informed as developments unfold.
Justice Arcand-Kootenay’s decision on the first Judicial Review can be found here.