Today is Truth and Reconciliation Day.
Our schools have a special role when it comes to placing this important date in context for Indigenous and non Indigenous students alike.
As trustees we believe that we can do better in performing that role by once again returning to our core mission as a board.
We encourage everyone to take time to reflect on Canada’s history, listen to Indigenous voices, and hold space for the children who never came home, as well as the survivors, the families, and communities forever impacted by residential “schools.”
Today is a day of mourning, but it is also a day of hope. Through acknowledging the traumas that these children went through we can inspire open conversations that lead to healing, and we can ensure it never happens again. Indigenous stories deserve to be told, listened to and understood.
TRUSTEES FOR CHANGE CONTINUE “BIG IDEAS” WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Candidate Barbara Bednarski Spoke to Excellence and Inclusivity
Wednesday, September 30th 2026 – Chilliwack – at our fifth weekly policy announcement, trustee candidates marked Truth and Reconciliation Day and expressed hope that thoughtful consideration on this day can lead to healing. Barbara Bednarski then spoke about Excellence and Inclusivity.
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“Our public school system is responsible for educating children. Parents entrust their children to the system expecting them to be given sound and broad-based learning,” said Barbara Bednarski.
“Schools must set high expectations for everyone. Every student is capable of meaningful academic growth, while also recognizing that students may need different forms of support to achieve their goals and where improvement is celebrated as well as excellence,” Barbara continued.
Classroom culture should be based on inclusivity where all feel safe and free from bullying. At the same time standards should not be lowered in the name of inclusion. A valuable part of education which could be incorporated into the curriculum is life-skills training.
As to violence free schools, every student and staff member has the right to learn and work in a classroom free from violence, threats, bullying and intimidation supported by clear prevention, reporting and response procedures. I fully support zero tolerance for violence: no hitting, kicking, spitting or threatening physical harm. This includes harassment and abusive language.
Staff and students should be permitted to report incidents confidentially without retaliation. A clear response procedure would include that every reported incident be documented, investigated and addressed promptly.
Some areas to consider are:
Prevention and Education – Regular teaching on conflict resolution, empathy, emotional regulation and respectful behaviour.
Adult Responsibility – Teachers and staff have the responsibility to intervene early when they perceive escalating conflict.
Student Participation – Involve students in developing classroom agreements and understanding the consequences of violating them.
Measurable Indicators – Success can be measured by tracking incidents with student safety surveys (in older grades), response times and numbers of repeat incidents.
I understand that this will mean a lot of effort and it aims high but it will result in a better system.
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For more information, please contact:
Barbara Bednarski: barbara.bednarski@trusteesforchange.ca
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