Over 7 months later, we have been informed that investigations are complete and are now under review by trustees to make a decision on how to handle the results.
The investigations should have covered topics including whether certain trustees officially violated their Code of Conduct by voting against Human Rights laws and the Ministry of Education’s directives; as well as Mike Del Grande’s actions specifically, as he introduced a 12-page amendment listing acts such as bestiality, pedophilia, sadism, polygamy and vampirism stating that these (mainly criminal) acts are equally as deserving of protection against discrimination as our youth and families that identify as LGBTQ+.
Although the board of trustees is obligated to share the results of the investigation with petitioners, as described in this recent report from outside counsel, we fear some trustees will jump through hoops to conceal the results.
In addition to the long silence we have endured and the school year coming to an end, the Director of Education, Rory McGuckin, is retiring as of August 31st, 2020. As Director, his leadership saw the initiation of the first-ever TCDSB Equity Action Plan. However, in light of the above, it is evident that the board has been struggling to implement this plan. This reinforces the need to urgently release any decisions made as a result of the investigation now, and to not drag it into the new school year.
In the past few weeks, we have witnessed a massive world uprising against bigotry. Like anti-black racism, anti-LGBTQ+ homophobia and transphobia have no place in publicly funded education. As Canadians, especially in an American era of chaos, we are looked upon as a moral compass and are expected to rise up against all forms of intolerance. Please contact the below trustees to let them know this and demand the findings of the investigation be released - publicly - without delay!
*Trustees have been categorized below based on voting records surrounding this topic.
Teresa Lubinski [ANTI-LGBTQ+]
Ward 4: Parkdale-High Park, Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Phone: 416-512-3404
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: teresa.lubinski@tcdsb.org
Michael Del Grande [ANTI-LGBTQ+]
Ward 7: Scarborough/ North York
Phone: 416-512-3407
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: mike.delgrande@tcdsb.org
Garry Tanuan [ANTI-LGBTQ+]
Ward 8: Scarborough
Phone: 416-512-3408
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: garry.tanuan@tcdsb.org
Nancy Crawford [ANTI-LGBTQ+]
Ward 12: Scarborough
Phone: 416-512-3412
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: nancy.crawford@tcdsb.org
Angela Kennedy [ANTI-LGBTQ+]
Ward 11: East York/Toronto
Phone: 416-512-3411
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: angela.kennedy@tcdsb.org
Joseph Martino [FLIP-FLOP]
Ward 1: Etobicoke
Phone: 416-512-3401
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: joseph.martino@tcdsb.org
Daniel Di Giorgio [ALLY]
Ward 10: Toronto
Phone: 416-512-3410
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: daniel.digiorgio@tcdsb.org
Markus de Domenico [ALLY]
Ward 2: Etobicoke
Phone: 416-512-3402
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: markus.dedomenico@tcdsb.org
Ida Li Preti [ALLY]
Ward 3: North York
Phone: 416-512-3403
Phone: 416-222-8282 Ext.2660
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: ida.lipreti@tcdsb.org
Maria Rizzo [ALLY]
Ward 5: North York
Phone: 416-512-3405
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: maria.rizzo@tcdsb.org
Frank D'Amico, CD [ALLY]
Ward 6: York
Phone: 416-512-3406
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: frank.damico@tcdsb.org
Norm Di Pasquale [ALLY]
Ward 9: Toronto
Phone: 416-512-3409
Fax: 416-512-3214
E-Mail: norm.dipasquale@tcdsb.org