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8 in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, A pr il 26 ,2 01 8 | EDUCATION Education minister calls on board to 'pause' ban's roll-out • Continued from page 4 Reding student council president Karyssa Chan is not happy with the board's decision. "Our school has a big is­ sue with the cancer society being on the (banned) list," the 17-year-old said, refer­ ring to the Canadian Can­ cer Society. She noted that last year her school held its first Re­ lay for Life with the cancer society benefiting from the more than $20,000 raised by the event, which many schools participate in. Chan said she intended to be co-chair o f this year's Relay for Life at Reding but the board's fundraising ban resulted in the June event's cancellation at the school. She said she and others are forging ahead with or­ ganizing an off-school Re­ lay for Life on June 2 near fellow Milton Catholic high school, Jean Vanier. "You can shut it down here but we're still going to support (banned) organiza­ tions. I am planning on at­ tending it and to stick it to the board," said a defiant Chan. "I'm not Catholic but I do believe in giving back," she said. She said a board fund­ raising ban for SickKids hospital, related to stem cell research, also bothers her as she was treated there as a youngster for asthma and eczema and has a friend with chronic nerve pain who received regular treatment there. Chan said she under­ stands to a point why the board has taken the stand against fundraising for some groups or purposes but thinks it's too far- reaching. "I see where they are coming from. Obviously they (board) are pro-life but we are not supporting charities because they are pro-life. We are doing this because my grandmother has had it (cancer) twice Bishop Reding students stage a walkout over the Halton Catholic District School ban. Duaa Shakeel photo Board's recent charities and beaten it," she said. Grade 12 student Ryan Attew said students should voice "our own opinions and our individuality." "I see where they Acclaim Health PRESENTS Ni - 0 P u r p o s e MAY F OU R T H 201 8 (board) are coming from, but it's the wrong place. It's subjective. It (infringes) on our freedom of speech. What about the whole sep­ aration of church and state?" The chair of the Halton Catholic board o f trustees issued a statement about the student protests. "Fundraising at the school level is an integral part of the educational ex­ perience for our students, and we know that many of our students are upset with recent amendments to our board's fundraising poli­ cy," said Diane Rabenda. "We are proud o f our students for choosing to ex- A L L E G R A M A R K E T IN G • P R IN T ■ M A I L FUNDING INNOVATION OAK1 The Beaver* I A P P I N E S S IS . . . ' i w Print Factory Ink p u r v i e w h i m Thank you to our sponsors for helping support change in our community for some of Halton's most vulnerable persons. ^Halton D E C i n i l press their concerns in a peaceful manner. A ll stakeholders, including students have an opportu­ nity to share their feedback on these amendments through the policy consul­ tation process, currently underway. In the interim, we continue to encourage our students to participate in fundraising efforts in ac­ cordance with our policy." Last week, Ontario Edu­ cation Minister and Halton M PP Indira Naidoo-Harris sent Halton Catholic trust­ ees a letter encouraging them to "pause" implemen­ tation o f the charitable ban policy and continue with consultation to ensure halton.ca (| 311 opinions o f the school com­ munity are heard and con­ sidered. A t the April 17 Catholic school board meeting, a motion by Oakville trustee Anthony Quinn, in re­ sponse to public delega­ tions, narrowly passed. It refers the matter to a fu­ ture board meeting to coin­ cide with a senior staff re­ port on the feedback and consultation process on school fundraising activi­ ties. Stakeholders w ill have until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 1 to submit feedback at https://bit.ly/2HE8pak. - with files from Nathan Howes REG ION Thank you for helping to keep Halton healthy Halton Region is celebrating its 15th annual Physician Appreciation Week from April 30 to May 4,2018.1 would like to thank our doctors for helping to support the health and well-being of Halton residents every day. To access a family doctor in Halton, visit halton.ca/newdoctor or call 311. Gary Carr Regional Chair https://bit.ly/2HE8pak