The Board of Education is responsible for providing an educational system that is safe, welcoming, inclusive and affirming for all students.

Policy No. 4.8.0 Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

The board recognizes and values the diversity found within its school communities and believes that each individual contributes to the strength of the district’s culture. The Board also recognizes that students and other school community members of all sexual orientations and gender identities face challenges within our schools and communities. It is with this rationale in mind and with an understanding that each member of the school and district community bears the responsibility for creating a safe, welcoming, inclusive and affirming environment for all individuals that this policy is adopted.
This policy is meant to be congruent with the Canadian Human Rights Act, the British Columbia Human Rights Code, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In addition, this policy is supported by the Safe, Caring and Orderly Schools mandate of the British Columbia Ministry of Education.

The Board of Education is committed to:

1. Providing and maintaining a physically and emotionally safe learning and working environment. This environment will promote and provide acceptance, fairness, justice and equity for all students, employees and families, irrespective of their real or perceived sex, sexual orientation, x gender identity and expression.
   
2. Recognizing and valuing, through articulation and actions, our diversity; and
   
3. Supporting the inclusion of all students, employees and families and promoting pro-active strategies and guidelines to ensure that students, employees and families of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions are welcomed and treated with respect and dignity.

The Superintendent shall be responsible for the implementation and monitoring of this policy.