TVDSB report calls for pause on officers in schools
A new report from the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) recommends putting the Student Resource Officer (SRO) program on hold.
The program came under scrutiny following Black Lives Matter protests in London in 2020, after which a review was recommended. The board also conducted an online community survey earlier this year.
TVDSB Education Director Mark Fisher is apologizing to students -- particularly Indigenous, Black and Youths of Colour -- who have felt harmed or traumatized by the presence of police officers.
“Our top priority is to create learning environments where students feel supported and safe,” Fisher said in a statement. “I want to apologize to any student who feels we have failed to fulfill our duty to them.”
The board says their review has found a negative impact for some students, making it difficult for them to be in school.
Al Day, executive director at the N’Amerind Friendship Centre, and a member of the SRO Review Leadership Team, said a pause makes sense.
“Many of our young people have been mistreated. We heard this in the feedback. That their trauma is real. I support the pause in the SRO program and the work of creating together, led by the voices of Indigenous, Black and Youth of Colour, a new, better way of having youth and police interact.”
Fisher said it is clear changes must be made and, "the report recommends community members and police continue to work together with us to determine whether the concerns raised can be rectified."
London Police Service Chief Steve Williams added, “We need to listen to the voices of those who have been negatively impacted by police, particularly young people from BIPOC communities. We believe that by working together, we can create better ways to serve our school communities which is vital for improved relationships moving forward.”
The findings will be presented to school trustees on Tuesday along with the recommendation to pause the program for at least one year for further study.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
An interprovincial investigation into an 'emergency grandparents scam' that targeted seniors across Canada has led to the arrest of 14 suspects, Ontario Provincial Police say.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
'Wild, wild west.' Families say organs of deceased Alabama inmates have been removed without their consent
The state Department of Corrections and the University of Alabama at Birmingham face disturbing allegations from the families of five inmates whose organs were removed and reportedly kept without consent, according to a series of lawsuits.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Juror dismissed in Trump hush money trial as prosecutors ask for former president to face contempt
Prosecutors in the hush money trial of Donald Trump asked Thursday for the former president to be held in contempt and fined because of seven social media posts that they said violated a judge's gag order barring him from attacking witnesses.
Why drivers in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada will see a gas price spike, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.