Teacher retired from Quebec elementary school for wearing hijab

School board says it had no choice because of Bill 21

Article content

A teacher employed at an elementary school in Chelsea, Quebec, was removed from her teaching position because she wears a hijab, CTV News reported Wednesday night.

Article content

The Western Quebec School Board confirmed that a third grade teacher at Chelsea Elementary School, located 20 kilometers north of Ottawa, was transferred from her job as a classroom teacher due to Bill 21, Quebec’s law that prohibits some public officials from wearing religious symbols. .

Parents were sent an email on December 3 stating that the teacher would no longer be in the classroom. They later learned it was due to Bill 21. The woman still works at the school in “another role,” but the school board did not say what kind of work she is doing now.

Parents posted green ribbons on a fence outside the school as a sign of support for the teacher.

“It is shocking as a father to see this kick in within our little community,” mother Amanda DeGrace told CTV News. “It is very sad for me that we are seeing Bill 21 go into action and the impact it is having on everyone involved.”

Wayne Daly, Acting President of the Western Quebec School Board, said the board removed the teacher once the human resources department learned of the situation. Daly said the majority of residents in his sector of Quebec oppose Bill 21, and the board had told the Quebec government that it was against it “from a human rights perspective” and because it was “unethical.” , but the board has no other choice because it is the law.