To Muslims in Canada as Elsewhere Peace is Disingenuously what Conflict Is, Justice to Them Injustice to Others

"The OCDSB is conducting a thorough investigation into this issue to ensure it is addressed appropriately and meaningfully."

"Student well-being is our priority and we are committed to ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all students."

"In order to ensure the integrity of the investigation, we will not be commenting further on this matter until the investigation is complete."

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board superintendent of instruction, Walter Piovesan

"The selective outrage and swift backlash reveal a troubling double standard that unfairly targets Palestinian and Arabic cultural expression, framing it as inherently controversial or politically charged."

"[The principal's response] reveals an underlying bias that labels Arabic expression as inappropriate in spaces intended to promote inclusivity and unity, while political calls to dismiss those who embrace diverse voices threaten educators' freedom to genuinely foster inclusivity."

"This prejudice not only marginalizes the Palestinian community further but also undermines Canada's professed commitment to multicultural inclusivity."

Jamila Ewais, spokesperson, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East

"Remembrance Day is about showing gratitude for Fallen Canadian Veterans, not other causes."

"We invite all educators to refer to our new guide so that they can be sure they are following appropriate protocols when planning a Remembrance Day ceremony, including when it comes to music."

Nujma Bond, national spokesperson, Royal Canadian Legion

Frosty poppies sit atop a tombstone on Remembrance Day at the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick /THE CANADIAN PRESS

 

Students of all grade levels on Remembrance Day just past were exposed on three separate occasions at Sir Robert Borden school (named after the Prime Minister who represented Canada during the First World War) in which an Arabic-language anti-Israel, pro-Hamas song popularized in the months following the barbaric attacks on southern Israel by thousands of Palestinian terrorists on October 7 2023, symbolizing, according to the school principal, 'inclusivity and unity' in place of the fusty old white-soldiers protocol followed traditionally for the annual remembrance ceremony.

Upset students and their parents reacted negatively to this surprise replacement of content reflecting remembrance of wars gone by and those who courageously fought for liberty, justice, equality and democracy. The complaints of inappropriate choices by the school administration for the sober and sad event led to the school principal apologizing, no doubt admonished by the school board which itself has launched an investigation of the sensibilities-assaulting event. Initially, when some of the students approached the principal to launch their personal complaints the response was that in the interests of inclusion the program changed from honouring 'white men involved in the military'.

That this happens to be a school with a large Jewish student contingent upon whom a song that celebrates yet another lethal Palestinian offensive against Jewish civilians in Israel, represented an exercise in malevolent mischief. The school principal, Aaron Hobbs wrote: "The inclusion of a song that could be seen as politically charged was not in line with the values of respect and unity that we strive to uphold at this school."  As opposed to his earlier statement of the purpose of Remembrance Day being about "a white guy who has done something related to the military".

Member of provincial parliament for the riding of Nepean where the school sits, called for the principal who made this decision to downplay respect for Canada's veterans -- the very purpose of Remembrance Day -- to be disciplined. It was her hope that the school board's thorough investigation  was seriously meant. "If this is just an attempt to suffocate the story and contain public input then we will not be any further ahead and that will be regret[able]", she stated.

A number of students had taken the initiative to do a little detective work to trace the song, using a phone app that took them to music platforms that featured artwork of Palestinian protests and songs written by Mahim Ahmed that are highly political. As was the song Haza Salam, translated as 'This is Peace' which has become identified with Palestinian protests of Israel and the conflict in Gaza.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board said it is conducting a 'thorough investigation' into the including of an Arabic song during a Remembrance Day ceremony at Sir Robert Borden High School earlier this week. (Google Maps)

DIE: Diversity, Inclusion, Equity

"To sit here and talk about facts and figures and then walk into the classroom tomorrow and say 'Canada is just as bad as the United States', I think we are doing an incredible disservice to our learners."

School Principal Richard Bilkszto, Toronto & District School Board 

"We are here to talk about anti-Black racism, but you in your whiteness think that you can tell me what's really going on for Black people?"

"At least [the U.S.] had a fighting posture against at least the monarchy, here we celebrate the monarchy, the very heart and soul and origins of the colonial structure."

DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) trainer Kike Ojo-Thompson, CEO, KOJO Institute

"[Thanks to the KOJO Institute for] modelling the discomfort administrators may need to experience in order to disrupt [anti-Black racism]."

Toronto & District School Board Superintendent

"Based on the information on file, I am satisfied that the conduct of the speaker ... was abusive, egregious and vexatious, and rises to the level of workplace harassment and bullying."

"[The DEI trainer intended to] cause reputational damage and to] make an example [of the principal."

Worker's Compensation Board

A Toronto District School Board sign is shown in front of a high school in Toronto. Photo by The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn

There seem to be few public schools and academic institutions in North America currently that haven't been invested in workplace diversity, equity and inclusion training; sensitivity awareness by 'white colonialists' to the 'lived reality' and historical colonialism of typical 'white supremacists', a learning issue that has extended to businesses and governments in this age of progressive wokeness. Richard Bilkszto, a principal with the TDSB, is suing the board for its failure to defend him during a hostile DEI training session.

 

Mr. Bilkszto has a 24-year career as a principal behind him. He is quite aware of the responsibilities incumbent upon the teaching profession, relaying to young students the fundamentals of a good education in the primary subjects of exposure; language, geography, history, science and economics. He previously taught at an inner-city school in Buffalo and is well versed in how Black and white students were treated. He took offence at Canada being singled out as the greater harbourer of racism.

For her part, Ms. Ojo-Thompson set out to teach the class she was addressing of education administrators that Canada's status as a monarchy represented a marker of racism. The British monarchy, in fact, outlawed slavery long before the U.S. did, and Canada itself had very few Black people held as slaves. The Underground Railway from the U.S. to Canada was a conduit to safety. It can be assumed that this DEI educator either was ignorant or chose to bypass the historical fact that African tribes were heavily involved as slavers.

She is the chief executive of an enterprise with clients in public institutions with listed clients that include the RCMP, the government of Ontario, the CBC, a number of universities and the federal government itself, enjoying service contracts in the interests of instilling a higher sense of sensitivity in employees to Black victimhood. In this instance, Mr. Bilkszto responded that racism is real with a need to improve the situation but that Canada remains a fairer place than the U.S., belying the trainer's contention otherwise. 

Another training facilitator with KOJO who was present at the session told Mr. Bulkszto "if you want to be an apologist for the U.S. or Canada, this is really not the forum for that". To which Ms. Ojo-Thompson added by instructing the class that "your job in this work as white people is to believe", not to question.

The day following this exchange of opinions, Mr. Bilkszto was berated by his supervisors about his "male white privilege" and "fallout" from the training.

In a follow-up training session, trainer Ojo-Thompson referrered to the principal's comments at the previous session as an example of "resistance" that supports white supremacy, explaining that his reference to "facts" represented an effort to derail the conversation and discredit her words. She encouraged everyone present to push back when they see others being "accosted by white supremacy".

The Toronto School Administrators' Association and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board supported Mr. Bilkszto's claim for workplace harassment leading to sick leave, calling for an investigation into the incident, though no investigation was initiated. However, the worker's compensation board awarded loss of earnings benefits for chronic mental stress.

The Toronto & District School Board itself is now under mental stress, since it decided in turn to issue a statement of claim against the KOJO Institute, alleging the DEI consulting firm was negligent, in breach of contract by humiliating, harassing and defaming their staff principal. Although Mr. Bilkszto, a contract principal, returned to work following six weeks of sick leave, he was not reinstated to the position he held prior to the DEI confrontation.

His work with the school board has been curtailed and another contract for a principal term was revoked. He is now seeking $785,000 in damages. It is clear that the school board, fearing they will be held liable for the hefty damages against them, will sue for a like amount from the DEI consulting firm to cover their liability.

But the court filings for these lawsuits render a birds-eye view of relentless workplace DEI training, that relies on coercion and ridicule to ensure that employees are forced to accept a litany of charges of racialist, ahistorical contentions. Any who fail to appropriately submit to the charges might find themselves being ordered to attend re-education sessions.

KOJO Institute is a leading consultancy that partners with organizations to unlock their potential by navigating the challenges connected to equity, bias, diversity, inclusion anti-oppression and anti-racism.

For over 20 years, KOJO Institute has designed scalable transformation frameworks that cultivate employment equity, cultural change, education and organizational development that drive positive social and business outcomes. Inclusive Change Drives People We deliver innovative solutions that achieve equitable outcomes, improve culture, and produce transformational results. KOJO web page Kike Ojo-Thompson, Founder & CEO