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Toronto District School Board Celebrates 2SLGBTQ+ Pride Every Day

Pride every dayOur TDSB community has a rich culture and history of celebrating diversity and our 2SLGBTQ+ community every day. Learn more about the history of Pride by visiting Pride Toronto and learn more about how we celebrate at the TDSB.

June is Pride Month in the TDSB!

In June, we celebrate Pride in the TDSB. It’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity and raise awareness among all staff and students about the rich culture and history of our 2SLGBTQ+ community.

One of the ways that Pride Month is recognized and celebrated at the TDSB is through flag raisings. All TDSB schools and sites fly Pride flags throughout the month of June.

  • The TDSB's Professional Library has pulled together a list of resources to celebrate Pride, including an 2SLGBTQ+ Resource Guide
  • Join the conversation online with #PrideTDSB

Director's GSA Awards

Every year, three outstanding trans-positive GSAs/QSAs in the Toronto District School Board are recognized through the Director’s GSA Awards. Three $1,000 awards are awarded to student-led groups that have demonstrated a committed effort in helping create a school climate that is safer and more positive for students and staff of all sexual orientations and gender identities.


Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week

Ontario has designated the week beginning on the third Sunday of November as Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week to help promote safe schools and a positive learning environment.

During this week, our students, staff and parents work together create learning environments that are caring, safe, peaceful, nurturing, positive, and respectful where all students are able to reach their full potential.

Promoting caring, safe and accepting spaces is an important priority of the TDSB. In 2013, the Board adopted comprehensive procedures aimed at establishing a framework to enable, support and maintain a positive school climate.  To learn more please read our P.051 Caring and Safe Schools policy and our procedures PR 702: Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour and PR 703 Bullying Prevention and Intervention.


If you want support launching a GSA, planning activities, holding a Pride event, or similar school based activities, contact the Gender-Based Violence Prevention Office.

TDSB Pride History

Year(s) Notable Events
1995 The Triangle Program (Canada’s only high school classroom for LGBTQ youth) opens as a satellite of Oasis Alternative Secondary School. It serves students from ages 14-23 and operates in the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto.
1996 TDSB Triangle Program holds first “Pride Prom”
1999-2000 The TDSB adopts and begins to implement its Equity Foundation Statement and Commitments to Equity Policy Implementation (with an anti-homophobia, sexual orientation commitment) as well as the TDSB Human Rights Policy (which includes sexual orientation and gender identity in its list of prohibited grounds)
2000 TDSB Officially participates in the Toronto Pride Parade with a float carrying Trustees and staff and student marching contingent.
2002 TDSB publishes ‘Rainbows and Triangles’ resource guide for anti-homophobia work in elementary schools
2006 TDSB Publishes “Anti-Homophobia Education Resource Guide” for staff of all grade levels.
2009 The Board establishes the Gender-Based Violence Office, the first of its kind in Canada. Their core function is to prevent and address gender-based violence, homophobia, sexual harassment, and inappropriate sexual behavior by students towards other students in their schools.
2010 The Board adopts its Gender-based Violence Policy.
2010 TDSB officially hosts Unity as an annual GSA student conference.
2010 TDSB Launches its Positive Spaces Campaign – a Board-wide K-12 initiative that ensure at least one trained rep in and designated spaces or spaces in every school with the purposes of being welcoming, affirming and inclusive for students and staff of all sexual orientations, sexual identities, gender identities and gender expressions, as well as anyone seeking information or support on any issues related to bullying, violence, gender, sexuality and or healthy relationships.
2011 The Gender Independent Group (GIG) is formed. This group meets monthly to support gender independent children and their families.
2011 The Trustees of the TDSB unanimously declare the Board a GSA in support of students.
2011 The Director’s Office creates a new annual student leadership award for the top 3           school students groups called Director’s GSA Awards.
2011 TDSB Publishes “Challenging Homophobia and Heterosexism a K-12 Curriculum Resource Guide” that updated and combined all previous associated resource guides.
2011 Guidelines for the Accommodation of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students and Staff are created by the Board.
2013 TDSB and Egale co-host Canada’s First National GSA Summit for high school students.
2014 TDSB Trustees endorse a motion re-affirming the Board commitment to official participation in the Toronto Pride Parade.

Learn more

Gender-Based Violence Prevention

Caring and Safe Schools

Equitable and Inclusive Education

Central and Operational Staff Pride Launch Video 2022

 

Useful Resources