'Hate and discrimination have no place in any TVDSB schools': Investigation underway after pride flag torn down
Students at Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School in London, Ont. are being investigated after a video was posted online showing students tearing down a LGBTQ2S+ pride flag.
Video obtained by CTV News London shows a student tearing down a pride flag at the secondary school on Tuesday.
The video shows a male proceeding to kick the flag while others surrounding him cheer him on. One student began shouting “take it off” and “put it in the garbage.”
Some students at the school told CTV News London on Wednesday that they’re saddened to see something like this happen, especially during Pride Month and on the second year anniversary of the day the Afzaal family was killed in an alleged hate motivated attack.
Mark Fisher, the director of education at the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) said, “Let me be clear, hate and discrimination have no place in any TVDSB schools.”
Fisher told CTV News London that the pride flag has since been replaced and that the board takes this incident “very seriously.”
“We have contacted the police because we consider this a hate crime. We don’t have any tolerance for any of those activities at any of our schools” Fisher added.
The students involved in the incident are being investigated.
“Based on what they gather students could face suspension or potentially expulsion,” Fisher said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

U.S. talking to India about Canada murder, no 'special exemption': Biden adviser
The U.S. is in touch with Indians at high levels after Ottawa said Indian government agents had links to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, and Washington is giving India no 'special exemption' in the matter, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Thursday.
'It was a mistake:' Ford reversing Ontario government's decision to open Greenbelt
Premier Doug Ford said he will be reversing his government’s decision to open up the Greenbelt to developers, calling the controversial land removals a “mistake.”
Man admits to fatally poisoning Toronto toddler's breakfast cereal in 'obsessive' plot against married woman
A Toronto man has admitted to fatal poisoning of a toddler's breakfast cereal at a Scarborough residence in 2021 as part of an "obsessive" plot against a married woman.
Emma Roberts apologized to Angelica Ross after allegedly misgendering her
Angelica Ross has thanked Emma Roberts after Ross initially accused Roberts of misgendering her.
'They were good men': Colleague remembers 4 B.C. wildland firefighters killed in head-on collision near Kamloops
A team leader at Tomahawk Ventures, a company contracted by the province to fight forest fires, is remembering four colleagues who died when their pickup truck crashed into a semi truck on the Trans-Canada Highway near Kamloops early Tuesday morning.
How to tell if your symptoms are from COVID, a cold or the flu
Telling the difference between a developing case of the flu, a cold or COVID-19 is even more difficult than before, as more distinctive symptoms such as the loss of taste or smell have become less common over time, experts say.
1 person killed and dozens injured after bus carrying students crashes on I-84 in Orange County, New York
At least one person has died and dozens more were injured when a bus carrying students rolled over on Interstate 84 in Orange County, New York, about 75 miles north of New York City, authorities said.
Freeland tables 'affordable housing and groceries' bill, Trudeau calls for all-party backing
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has tabled new legislation to implement the promised removal of GST from new rental developments, and to revamp Canada's competition laws, framing the bill as a package that will result in more affordable housing and groceries, eventually.
Alberta deserves more than half CPP assets if it exits program: report
A report commissioned by the Alberta government says the province would be entitled to more than half the assets of the Canada Pension Plan - $334 billion - if it were to exit the national retirement savings program in 2027.