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Everyone welcome in Winnipeg School Division

June 14, 2023
Supporting students across the rainbow WSD logo

Winnipeg School Division staff, parents/guardians, students and community are committed to promoting the development of actions and attitudes that create a safe and caring learning environment. Inclusive policies and nurturing practices help to build a learning environment in which our most vulnerable students feel safe and valued, reducing the risk of self-harm and suicide. Studies show that creating a supportive environment for 2SLGBTQ+ students improves educational outcomes for all students, not just those who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

Schools in Winnipeg School Division embrace family diversity. We believe all families should feel welcome as soon as they enter any of our schools or buildings. This means children of all racial and ethnic backgrounds and family structures get to see families like their own reflected in the books in their classrooms, in the images on bulletin boards and in the curriculum material. Students feel comfortable talking about their families whether they have two dads, a grandmother as a primary caregiver or a parent living in another country.

In WSD, family diversity is considered in every facet of the school community. From the first registration forms, to our ongoing communication with families, schools signal acknowledgement and welcome. In this inclusive environment, diverse families are normalized and children aren’t singled out or bullied because their family is “different.”

To help our students at all ages understand they are part of our inclusive environment, every school and building within WSD prominently displays Everyone Welcome posters. It is important to promote inclusivity at all grade levels, as students develop and form attitudes toward the world and each other.

In recognition of Pride Month, the Everyone Welcome poster has been updated. The creation of this updated poster was influenced by the most recent Progress Pride Flag and signifies Winnipeg School Division’s commitment to inclusive, safe and caring school communities.

The original rainbow Pride flag was inspired by the “Flag of the Races” which had five stripes, each representing the colours of human kind. The six colours of the rainbow flag stand as a symbol of pride, diversity and unity of the 2SLGBTQ+ community: red for Life, orange for Healing, yellow for Sun, green for Nurture, blue for Harmony and purple for Spirit.

The white, pink and blue stripes represent the transgender community, while the brown and black stripes represent 2SLGBTQ+ people of colour. Most recently, the yellow stripe with a purple circle was added to represent intersex individuals.

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