Hogan files for dissolution of Anglophone East District Education Council
Updated July 5, 2024, 10pm to include confirmation of filing from Department of Education spokesperson, Erika Jutras.
School may be out for the summer, but the Anglophone East District Education Council was back in action on Thursday, responding to news of an order in council approved by the provincial cabinet on May 9, 2024, authorizing Minister Bill Hogan to go to court to dissolve the District Education council for Anglophone East. By end of day Friday, the minister would make use of that authorization.
Hogan had previously threatened the council with dissolution, but the order in council shows that he has support of the PC government cabinet to pursue the dissolution.
In a statement Thursday, the DEC says they have not received “any formal notice indicating that the minister has filed the required application to dissolve the DEC with the court.”
But a spokesperson for the Education department told CHMA that could be coming soon. “The intention is to file shortly with the court to dissolve the District Education Council for Anglophone-East,” wrote communications officer Judy Winter in response to a CHMA enquiry Thursday.
It’s not clear if the court would be able to deal with the matter before the New Brunswick provincial election, due to happen in less than four months’ time, by October 21, 2024.
The DEC statement says it is prepared to “defend its integrity through all available channels”, if and when the minister “chooses to act on the May 9th authorization.”… Continue
Tantramar Council rejects move to send protest letter over Policy 713 changes
Tantramar councillor Mike Tower was hoping to send a message to Premier Blaine Higgs about his recent changes to the province’s education policy 713, which protects LGBTQ+ students in schools. The veteran councillor has a personal connection to the policy, because he has a non-binary grandchild.
But on Tuesday, the majority of Tower’s fellow councillors turned down his motion, citing a lack of jurisdiction and expertise on the issue.
Tower’s motion would have authorized the mayor to write a letter to the Premier asking him to “stop to proposed changes, maintain the original policy 713, and consult with school psychologists, teachers, parents and students.”
Three councillors voted in favour of the motion (Tower, and Councillors Josh Goguen and Allison Butcher), with the rest of council and the mayor voting against.
Mayor Andrew Black kicked off debate on the motion by telling council he felt the matter was out of their jurisdiction, comparing it to the controversial French Immersion program change proposed by the Higgs government last December. Tower rejected that position, comparing it instead to a health care issue.
“Much like the hospital, when they were trying to close it down, we had to step up because it’s the importance of the health of our Tantramar region,” said Tower. “If we can’t take that as part of our responsibility and mandate… then I think something’s wrong.”
Councillor Matt Estabrooks spoke in opposition to the motion, saying he did not feel that he or council had the expertise to weigh in on the matter, and that it would be better to wait until provincial Child and Youth Advocate Kelly Lamrock completed his review, which is due in mid August.… Continue
Policy 713: rally in Sackville, rebellion in legislature, and debate coming to town council
In the legislature on Thursday, six PC MLAs voted in favour of an opposition motion calling for a review of changes to the education department’s Policy 713. The PC votes meant the Liberal motion passed, 26 to 20 in favour of the policy review, to be performed by child and youth advocate, Kelly Lamrock. Though the motion is not binding on the government, Lamrock has said it is binding on him, and he will follow through.
Hogan’s Policy 713 changes have been stirring up action in Tantramar this week as well. On Tuesday evening, Councillor Michael Tower gave notice of a motion he intends to make at the next regular meeting, to write a letter on behalf of council supporting the original policy 713, which among other things, requires teachers to address students of all ages by their preferred names and pronouns.
CHMA caught up with Tower after Tuesday’s meeting:
Tower says he has a personal connection to the policy discussion, because he has a non-binary grandchild. “I personally feel that the premier and [education minister Bill] Hogan both don’t have a great understanding of what it is and how it’s affecting the youth,” said Tower on Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday, a group of about 18 Sackville residents gathered to voice their support for a repeal of the changes. The rally was originally planned to piggyback on the town’s Pride Picnic, which was postponed due to weather.… Continue
Fundraising for bursary ongoing two years after death of Mount A grad remembered for compassion and intelligence
When Mount Allison graduate Kavana Wa Kilele died unexpectedly two years ago in her home country of Kenya, a group of people came together to establish an endowment to honour her memory.
The goal is to create a needs-based bursary that will support Black students who are passionate about social justice activism. It will be Mount Allison’s first endowment meant specifically to support Black students.
Kavana has been described as a beloved friend known for her compassion and intelligence. She co-founded the Sackville Refugee Response Coalition, which helped resettle several families in the Maritimes.
“I know she was definitely an important part of the Sackville community and the Mount A community,” said Helen Yao, a Mount Allison graduate involved in the effort.
About $10,000 has been raised towards the goal of $25,000 for the endowment so far. Once that goal is achieved, the bursary is expected to become self-sustaining, producing about $1,000 per year.
During Black History Month, organizers are asking local businesses to pitch in, noting that Kavana held a number of jobs around town to afford her studies. Tuition for international students at Mount Allison is about $20,000, approximately double that of domestic students.
Kit Nicholson, who was a close friend of Kavana, described her as a natural leader who left a powerful impression. “She… Continue
Higgs’ plan to abolish French immersion prompts Sackville parents to form grassroots group
The planned abolition of French immersion in New Brunswick has provoked the wrath of some local residents, and a grassroots organization appears to be taking shape in Sackville to oppose the change.
About two dozen people turned out for a public meeting Tuesday evening at the Sackville Commons Co-op.
Valmai Goggin, the parent of two young girls, lived away from New Brunswick for 15 years. Access to French immersion was among the factors attracting them back to the province.
“To be in a position now where the only bilingual province in the country is looking at having the worst French program nationwide, is mind-boggling and it cannot happen,” she said.
Listen to local residents who turned out for the meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, in Sackville:
The event featured two guest speakers: Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton and Chris Collins, executive director of Canadian Parents for French NB.
Collins, who was formerly a Liberal Party MLA who served as Minister of Local Government, encouraged parents to oppose the changes through a letter-writing campaign.
He said letters should target Progressive Conservative MLAs whose seats are vulnerable in the next election, notably in Moncton and Fredericton.… Continue
Port Elgin grade 8 grads snag national award for disability walk
Two students graduating from Port Elgin Regional School (PERS) this year have been honoured with a Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award for their project hosting a disability walk.
CHMA stopped by the bustling school to meet Maizie Carter and Lexie Lewis, and hear a bit more about their project. We started off talking with teacher Beth Weatherbee about how Maizie and Lexie came to take on their award winning project.
Last year after completing a food security project ahead of schedule, Carter and Lewis were on the lookout for a new project to finish off their grade 7 year. They decided on a disability walk, where students of PERS could briefly experience some of the physical challenges faced by people with disabilities. Students tried out wheelchairs, blindfolds, sound cancelling headphones and went for a walk around the school and in Port Elgin.
The experience was enlightening for some students, says Lexie Lewis. “They said it was a lot harder than they thought,” says Lewis. “And we explained to them, imagine doing that every day, and the amount of challenges that you would run into.”
Lewis said some immediate obstacles were noticed, like large cracks in sidewalks that people in wheelchairs had to navigate around.
The walk was so successful last year that Lewis and Carter hosted another one this year, of their own accord.… Continue
AWI nature-based camp accessible to all this year, thanks to Crake Foundation funding
It’s March Break in New Brunswick, which means kids are out of school, and families are either enjoying some much needed downtime together, or scrambling to fill a week-long gap.
The Atlantic Wildlife Institute (AWI) in Cookville is helping fill that gap this year with a March break camp for kids interested in spending time outdoors, learning more about nature.
Greg Osowski and his partner Chris MacLeod run the camp, which is based in the education centre at AWI. Osowski says the goal is nature-based learning. “So we are learning about how maple syrup is made,” says Osowski. “We’re gathering sap, and we’re going to have sugar on snow at the end of the week. We are learning how to use different plants for making rope, and also making a pan flute with Japanese knotweed.”
The group is also having fun simply sliding on snow and making snow sculptures, says Osowski. “They’re just a great group of kids,” he says, “so it’s been a lot of fun.”
This year’s AWI march break camp is free for families, thanks to a sponsorship by the J.E.A. Crake Foundation.
The foundation has been around 45 years with a mandate to support educational programs and activities in the area of the humanities. A good part of its support goes to Mount Allison students and faculty, but the foundation also supports community groups in the Sackville area, including the Tantramar Wetlands Centre and the Heritage Trust.… Continue