Officials with the Lambton Kent District School Board say there is no concern for staff or student safety after threats were made towards Blenheim District High School this week.
A social media post from Ward 4/North Kent Councillor Rhonda Jubenville included a photo of the school property, where the Canadian Flag and Pride Flag were being flown. Jubenville suggested any flag flown under the national flag was improper and urged her followers to contact the school. “If you feel empassioned about this please respectfully let Blenheim High School know your feelings,” the post read.
John Howitt, Director of Education for the Lambton Kent District School Board says Chatham-Kent Police were called to the school on Thursday following threats made to the school’s principal and the building itself.
According to a statement from Chatham-Kent Police, a 51-year-old Chatham man was cautioned regarding his comments to school staff regarding their decision to fly the Pride flag.
Howitt says the issue is not the Pride flag, it is intolerance.
“We are seeing across the province, intolerance when the Pride flag is flown, people who are trying to distract by using things like the national flag etiquette without sharing the complete national flag etiquette or not sharing the LKDSB’s flag protocols, to suggest it’s disrespectful to fly the flag when really the root cause is intolerance of people who should be safe wherever they go.”
In terms of flag etiquette, Howitt points to the Government of Canada website which states “the manner in which flags may be displayed in Canada is not governed by legislation but rather by established practice. The etiquette outlined in this section is an adaptation of international usage and of customs that the federal government has been observing for many years. The rules applied by the federal government are in no way mandatory for individuals or organizations; they may serve as guidelines for all persons who wish to display the National Flag of Canada and other flags in Canada.”
He also cited the LKDSB Display of Flags protocol, which says “at locations with only one flagpole the National Flag must take a position of prominence at all times when displayed with other flags: no flag shall be larger than the National Flag of Canada, no flag shall fly higher than the National Flag of Canada.”
Howitt says the Pride flag was flown on May 17th in honour of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
He says following police intervention, apologies have been received in relation to the original threats.
Jubenville says she does not believe there was a connection between her social media post and the threats made at the Blenheim school. She adds that she does not condone threats of any kind.
“I will not bear any responsibility for the actions of another person,” she says. “My post was for people who I know feel strongly about our national flag being flown on its own flag pole.
“I represent people in Chatham-Kent that did not appreciate those two flags being flown together.”
Officers were back at the school Friday morning, although there were no issues reported.
