Niagara Catholic District School Board votes to raise Pride flag for 1st time

The Niagara Catholic District School Board has decided to fly the Pride flag at all schools for the first time at the start of June.

Trustees voted at a May 25 meeting to raise the flag atNiagara Catholic high schools, continuing education schools and the Catholic Education Centre from June 1 to 6.

The school board's chair,Larry Huibers, applauded his fellow trustees in a statement and thanked them for "recognizing the urgency of acknowledging Pride week."

"It is not enough to simply tell students and staff who identify as gay, transgender and non-binary that they are loved and supported," Huibers said in the statement.

"Flying the Pride flag is the most universally accepted, visible show of support for all who identify as 2SLGBTQ+."

A number of Catholic school boards in Ontario have voted in recent weeks to fly the flag in June including those in Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo, Durham, Wellington andDufferin-Peel.

Last year, the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board was the first to raise the rainbow flag at its schools. The board has said it will do so again this year.

Halton's Catholic board decided at an April 26 meeting not to fly the flag this year.

When reached for comment, a representative for the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board said the board was finalizing a statement on its commitment to inclusivity.

The board expects to release that statement on Friday.