The mission of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is to realize each student’s potential within our inclusive Catholic learning community by nurturing and developing their mind, body and spirit. As June is nationally recognized as Pride Month in Canada, our Board will join other Catholic School Boards across Ontario by flying the Progress Pride flag which we have recently obtained at the Catholic Education Centre and each June going forward.
While the Progress and Rainbow Flag are strongly connected to the 2SLGBTQ+ community, they are also a representation of respect, dignity, openness and a universal symbol of inclusion. A visible sign such as the Progress Flag is a sign of solidarity that tells our students and staff that we welcome and value students and celebrate diversity. It also indicates that our schools are a safe welcoming space for everyone.
We believe that we are all created in the image and likeness of God, and we teach our students to honour the dignity in each person by treating one another with empathy, compassion and respect.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board remains firm in its resolve that the work that our staff and students engage in each and every day will confront injustice, racism, oppression, and violence. We advocate for acceptance, healing, and reconciliation. Flying the Progress Flag aligns with our Board’s equity plan and our Board multi-year strategic plan which emphasizes inclusion and belonging, as well as student and staff well-being.
We are pleased to support the flying of the Progress flag and the positive impact it will have on our Board community.
Note: There are several variations of the Rainbow Pride flag including versions that include black and brown stripes to represent LGBTQ+ people of colour. Most recently, graphic designer Daniel Quasar has added a five-coloured chevron to the Rainbow Flag to place a greater emphasis on “inclusion and progression”. This flag is often referred to as the “Progress Flag” or “Inclusion Flag”.
