The Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, presided over by Justice Cheryl Arcand-Kootenay, has upheld the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) Board of Trustees’ decision to disqualify former Trustee Monique LaGrange.
This ruling follows an earlier judicial decision where sanctions were imposed on LaGrange for breaching the Board’s Code of Conduct.
Justice Arcand-Kootenay found that disqualification was necessary after LaGrange failed to comply with those sanctions and continued to make harmful public statements.
The Court reaffirmed that the Board acted reasonably and within its authority in making its decision, emphasizing the importance of protecting a welcoming, caring, respectful, and safe learning environment as mandated by the Education Act.
The judicial reviews stemmed from a controversial meme shared on or about August 27, 2023, featuring juxtaposed images of children holding Nazi flags with swastikas and children holding Pride flags, captioned “Brainwashing is brainwashing.”
The post sparked significant concern regarding its implications and alignment with the Board’s values and policies.
Board Chair Murray Hollman responded to the ruling, stating: “We are pleased with the outcome of this second judicial review, which confirms the integrity of the Board’s decision-making process. As a Board, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and positive learning environment for all students, staff, and community members.”
Justice Arcand-Kootenay’s decision on the second judicial review can be found here.
Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools serves over 9,600 students in 21 schools in Red Deer, Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Innisfail, and Olds. It also supports the learning of over 950 students in a Home Education Program.
**with information provided by Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools
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