The Thames Valley District School Board is one of the first school boards in Ontario to announce plans to develop an Anti-Islamophobia Strategy, following today’s announcement at the board’s two-year commemoration of the June 6 terrorist attack that took the lives of Our London Family.

“The tragic events of June 6 are a solemn reminder of the pervasive and deadly impact that racism, discrimination and hate can have in our society. The Thames Valley District School Board is firmly committed to taking the sustained action necessary to end Islamophobia in our communities,” said Mark Fisher, Director of Education.

“Thames Valley’s Anti-Islamophobia Strategy represents a crucial step in this collective fight against harmful discrimination. As we engage in this important work, we are following the lead of and working in conjunction with Muslim community partners to build an effective long-term strategy that simultaneously seeks to affirm Muslim identities while combatting the root causes that give rise to hate and discrimination directed towards the Muslim community.”

Thames Valley is proud to collaborate with a number of community organizations on the Anti-Islamophobia Strategy, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), Hikma Public Affairs Council and the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support & Integration (MRCSSI).

“Bold leadership in the effort to combat Islamophobia is the need of the hour. This step to develop a strategy by the Thames Valley District School Board, in partnership with community advocates, is an important step. The tragedy that befell London is a reminder of what can happen if Islamophobia is left unchecked. We look forward to working with the board to ensure successful development and implementation,” said Aasiyah Khan, Director of Education Programs at the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

The board is also working with Eaman Fahmy, formerly the Inclusive Program Designer at Pillar Nonprofit Network with experience in parent engagement and social justice, to support the strategy’s development.

Additionally, Thames Valley will hold public consultations and a community survey in the coming months to gather valued input from Muslim families across the district.

“Trustees will continue to listen to the voices of Muslim families in Thames Valley and advocate for strategies that remove barriers to student achievement, mental health and well-being,” said Lori-Ann Pizzolato, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Thames Valley’s Anti-Islamophobia Strategy is scheduled for release on June 6, 2024.