An elementary school in Winnipeg that has decided to ditch Mother’s Day and Father’s Day presents in favor of family gifts.
According to the National Post the move is part of a new trend among some Canadian schools downplaying or eliminating the traditional parental celebrations.”
The gradual removal of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day from Canadian classrooms appears to be following a clear ideological script with no reversal in sight.
LifeSiteNews reports: Sage Creek School is the latest institution to adopt the trend, with first- and second-grade teachers letting parents know before Mother’s Day of the change, which was made “to respect the diversity of families that are represented in our classroom and community.”
Some parents, predictably, have been upset by this. The Winnipeg Free Press quoted Ashley Dolphin, mother of a Grade 1 student at Sage, stating: “Where is the line? What is next? At what point are you being more exclusive than inclusive?” Another mother of two said: “They should be taking parent input. These are our children’s minds they’re helping shape. Parenting is so hard … It’s just nice for the school to teach about how to appreciate someone and how to show gratitude.”
“There’s nothing inclusive about it at all, and I think it’s absolutely absurd,” former Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri told the National Post, calling the move “shaming the nuclear family.” “It’s removing one person’s rights for another person’s, instead of just adding to the conversation and saying, ‘If your mom’s not in your life, you make a card that fits best to you.’ But why should you punish a child who wants to celebrate their mother or father?”
“Schools should focus on education, structure, discipline, and preparing students for adult life, not on rebranding family traditions to satisfy ideological trends,” added former Winnipeg city council member Kevin Klein in the Winnipeg Sun.
Sage Creek School principal Jason Dubeau, predictably, is unapologetic. “We strive to create learning experiences where all students feel seen, respected, and included,” he told the Post. “This year, our Grade 1 and 2 teams have chosen to focus on International Day of Families on May 15. This approach reflects the diversity of family structures in our community and supports all students in participating in a way that feels safe and meaningful to them.”
“We recognize that Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are important to many families, and we continue to encourage families to celebrate these occasions in ways that are meaningful to them outside the school,” he continued. “Students may choose to create cards or crafts for their mothers through planned classroom activities connected to the International Day of Families, as well as at other appropriate times during the school day.”
This trend has been going on for some time. South Kelowna Elementary School quietly removed Mother’s Day and Father’s Day from their calendars. La Chanterelle school in Quebec replaced them in 2023 (and received much backlash, leading to an apology). An elementary school in Mission, British Columbia, cancelled Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gift-giving back in 2017. In 2023, a Toronto school took down a sign celebrating mothers because it was “exclusionary.” In almost every instance, parents have been upset.