Education Minister Nancy Allan and Family Services and Labour Minister Jennifer Howard meet with staff of the Rainbow Resource Centre after announcing the development of resources to support gay-straight alliances in Manitoba schools.
May 27, 2013
Egale has already partnered with Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador to develop equity and inclusive education resource kits.
Other actions the province has taken to stop bullying include:
Manitoba’s resource material will build on existing resources but will be tailored to Manitoba students, she said, adding the resources will be available to both public and funded, independent schools in the 2013-14 school year in both English and French.
PROVINCE PARTNERS TO DEVELOP RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCES IN SCHOOLS
The provincial government is partnering with Egale Canada Human Rights Trust to develop resources that will help schools establish gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and create safer schools for all Manitoba students, Education Minister Nancy Allan announced today.
“Manitoba has been at the forefront in Canada in taking action to prevent bullying. Today we want to give students more power and the right tools they need to create a more caring and inclusive school for all students,” said Allan. “This new resource will support Bill 18 which will require all schools to accommodate students who want to form GSAs.”
Allan noted the number of GSAs in Manitoba has grown quickly during the past few years. In 2009, there were only two in the province but by 2012 there were approximately 35 and there are currently about 60 in operation or in the process of being developed this year.
The province will partner with Egale Canada Human Rights Trust to develop Safe and Caring Schools: A Resource for Equity and Inclusion in Manitoba schools(MyGSA).
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, located in Toronto, is Canada’s only national charity promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-human rights through research, education and community engagement.
“We are delighted to be working with the Government of Manitoba on this initiative,” said Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale. “We are very proud of this government’s commitment to safe and caring schools for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The resource guide will provide foundational resources and will contain specific sections with information tailored to youth, educators, guidance counsellors and administrators in secondary schools as well as extensive directories and references relating to role models, symbols, terms and concepts, and community services. The resource guide will include:
In December 2012, the province consulted with the Safe Schools Manitoba Advisory Council, which recommended that government develop safe and caring school resources to support GSAs in schools. The council encouraged developing a resource kit in collaboration with Egale Canada.“Manitoba has been at the forefront in Canada in taking action to prevent bullying. Today we want to give students more power and the right tools they need to create a more caring and inclusive school for all students,” said Allan. “This new resource will support Bill 18 which will require all schools to accommodate students who want to form GSAs.”
Allan noted the number of GSAs in Manitoba has grown quickly during the past few years. In 2009, there were only two in the province but by 2012 there were approximately 35 and there are currently about 60 in operation or in the process of being developed this year.
The province will partner with Egale Canada Human Rights Trust to develop Safe and Caring Schools: A Resource for Equity and Inclusion in Manitoba schools(MyGSA).
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, located in Toronto, is Canada’s only national charity promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-human rights through research, education and community engagement.
“We are delighted to be working with the Government of Manitoba on this initiative,” said Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale. “We are very proud of this government’s commitment to safe and caring schools for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The resource guide will provide foundational resources and will contain specific sections with information tailored to youth, educators, guidance counsellors and administrators in secondary schools as well as extensive directories and references relating to role models, symbols, terms and concepts, and community services. The resource guide will include:
- tools for assessing school climate;
- a step-by-step guide to establishing a GSA or lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or queer(LGBTQ) safer space at school;
- information and activities regarding the creation of safer school communities;
- information, strategies and ideas to help educators create and maintain safer school communities;
- information on challenges frequently faced by LGBTQ youth and their families;
- information on best practices for counsellors working with LGBTQ youth;
- data and analysis explaining the significance of educator-initiated safer schools work; and
- information on Manitoba legislation and policy regarding safe and inclusive schools.
Egale has already partnered with Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador to develop equity and inclusive education resource kits.
Other actions the province has taken to stop bullying include:
- expanding the Tell Them From Me online survey so that schools can hear directly from grade 4 to 12 students in 550 schools across Manitoba on how they can improve safety and prevent bullying;
- providing new resources and supports to educate parents, teachers and students to help them identify, prevent and deal with bullying; and
- continuing to support Safe Schools Manitoba, a unique partnership between the provincial government, schools, law enforcement, social service agencies, parent councils, professional associations and community agencies.
Manitoba’s resource material will build on existing resources but will be tailored to Manitoba students, she said, adding the resources will be available to both public and funded, independent schools in the 2013-14 school year in both English and French.
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