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16 = 5 Oakville Beaver | Thursday, March 2, 2023 insidehalton.com PRINCIPAL FACES DISCIPLINARY HEARING FOR ALLEGED RACIST INCIDENTS ROLAND CILLIERS rcilliers@metroland.com An Oakville principal is slated to appear before a dis- ciplinary hearing related to racist incidents that are al- leged to have occurred be- tween 2016 and 2020. The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) Discipline and Fitness to Practise Committee will hear ofpro- fessional misconduct alle- gations against Julie Ann Riesberry, currently the principal of St. Michael El- ementary School in Oak- ville, on a yet-to-be-sched- uled date. Anotice of hearing post- ed to the OCT's website lists the allegations against Riesberry. They include in- “The types of incidents outlined in the Notice of Hearing are clear indicators of the overt and systemic anti-Black racism." stances where it is alleged the then-principal of St. Bernadette Catholic Ele- mentary School made rac- ist comments and used ra- ‘ially pejorative terms on nine separate occasions to - parent council statement aware of the allegations against the principal, the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB), de- clined to comment, citing personnel mat Legal counsel “for the olic school system, will be handling the Oakville prin- cipal's matter before the CT, according to tl council's executive direc- tor, Joe Geiser. The council represents members in a variety of ca- pacities, including offering legal support for matters relating to their responsi- bilities as school adminis- trators. "We do have what are called support services ad- visers, individuals who work for us, who also liaise with our principals and vice principals.” said Geis- 3 principal as well as with le- gal counsel, any of these kinds of matters or any oth- er kinds of supports that ‘we can off The Halton Region Black Parent Council, a local ad- vocacy group, said they were not shocked by the al- legations made public in the ocrs1 notice of hearing. ie types of incidents outlined in the Notice of e clear indica- tors of the overt and sys- temic anti-Black racism that continues to thrive at Ci the Halton Catholic Dis- ict School Board (HCDSB)," said the parent council in fement. be held accountable for their behaviour, even more important is that HCD: holds itself accountable for their role in allowing a cul- ture of racism to exist so openly in their schools and under their care." The HCDSB said in an earlier statement it ac- knowledges the problem of nt iS taken a multi-pronged ap- proach that includes pro- ional development, pol- en review, data collection, inclusive curriculum and establishing mechanisms to respond to incidents of racism and discrimination when ey occur. bi recognize that we still have much work to do as we hold ourselves up to the highest standards ofac- countability that our stu- dents, families and staffde- serve and should expect of us," reads a statement from the HCDSB. local news. colleagues. Catholic Principals Coun- er, speaking generally Riesberry did not re- cil,a professional associa- about the council and re- spond to requests forcom- tion for prin and sources available to mem- ment. vice- principals in Onta- _ bers." We would have some- Acknowledging it was rio's publiclyfunded Cath- body working with the We order the steel piping that is manufactured by the plant Sal: that creates the jobs that support the families that include the neighbour who walks your dog. Canada’s oil and gas industry has a positive impact in Ontario - 71,500 jobs and an $84 billion contribution to the province's economy. Find out more reasons you can feel good about Canada’s oil and gas at madethecanadianway.ca Canadian Energy Centre