Pride flags vandalized at public schools
KITCHENER — Three rainbow Pride flags being flown by the public school system were vandalized Wednesday evening or early Thursday, Waterloo Regional Police said.
The Waterloo Region District School Board has flown these flags during the month of June at every school and also at its administrative building on Ardelt Avenue. It’s the first time the board has done this.
But someone damaged the flags at Westheights Public School on Westheights Drive, and at Sandhills Public School on Victoria St. S. sometime between 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday and 7 a.m. on Thursday, said Staff Sgt. Mark Crowell of Waterloo Regional Police.
The flag that flies at the entrance to the school board building on Ardelt Avenue was also damaged.
In addition, graffiti was spray-painted near the base of each of the flagpoles, Crowell said. Police are investigating. Neither the school board nor the police are revealing what the spray-painted graffiti said.
"We are very disappointed that these acts of vandalism occurred,” said school board representative Victoria Ford.
“We want our buildings to be safe spaces for everyone who walks through our doors. As an educational institution, it is our role to ensure students are educated, feel safe and achieve success. This should happen inside and outside the classroom.
“Raising the Pride flag at every one of our schools and our education centre is part of our commitment to creating these safe and inclusive spaces.” ldamato@therecord.com, Twitter: @DamatoRecord