Students First Ontario

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

April 12, 2023: Students First Ontario issues a media release presenting the results of a recent survey of parents and their views on the way the K. Lemieux issue has been managed by the HDSB. A proposal is put forward for the HDSB to implement to help restore families' trust and confidence in the Board. March 1, 2023: HDSB confirms that Kayla Lemieux is no longer on active assignment but remains employed with the HDSB
March 1, 2023: Parents delegate at the HDSB Board meeting outlining concerns with proposed professionalism policy February 24, 2023: HDSB issued a final draft Professionalism Policy and Consultation Survey. No details of proposed staff dress code were included.
February 21, 2023: Police and HDSB advise a bomb threat has been directed to OTHS.
February 19, 2023: Kayla Lemieux goes on-record claiming gigantic breasts are real
February 17, 2023: New York Post reports that Kayla Lemieux dresses as a man outside of school.
February 15, 2023: Police and HDSB advise a bomb threat has been directed to OTHS.
February 15, 2023: HDSB Director Ennis fails to provide preliminary details of Professionalism Policy in Interim Report to the Board. Parents censored and concerns ignored as Board retreats.
February 7, 2023: Reports surface that Kayla Lemieux has returned to class after being spotted at OTHS.
Jan 24, 2023: Students First Ontario hosted its second Community Forum. Parents gather and express their support for the Trustees' motion to require a professionalism policy for HDSB staff - to include a dress code and standards of behaviour.
Jan 11, 2023: Bandhu Law responds to HDSB's denial of Special Parent Council meeting request.
Jan 10, 2023: HDSB sends letter denying OTHS Parent Council Co-Chair's request for special meeting in January.
Jan 8, 2023: Rishi Bandhu, lawyer retained by OTHS parents responds to January 6, 2023 response letter from HDSB
Jan 6, 2023: HDSB responded to the letter sent by OTHS parent-lawyer, Rishi Bandhu,
Jan 3, 2023: In Special Meeting of the Board, HDSB passes a motion to develop a Professionalism policy for staff, to include standards of dress and decorum by March 1, 2023. See Motion in meeting minutes M23-0007.
Dec 19, 2022: On behalf of OTHS Parents, lawyer Rishi Bandhu has issued a letter to the administrators of the HDSB outlining a series of Demands for Compliance and Communication.
Dec 19, 2022: Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce rebukes HDSB for failure to resolve dress code situation and prioritize student safety.
Dec 19, 2022 : Additional bomb threats issued and directed towards HDSB officials and school properties.
Dec 16, 2022 - In response to SFO request, OCT releases full report on Professional Standards sent to Minister Stephen Lecce.
Dec 16, 2022 - Reports indicate HDSB has initiated an investigation into Kayla Lemieux in relation to in-class vaping incident caught on video.
Dec 16, 2022 - HDSB sends notice to Dr. F.J. Hayden SS Families advising of receipt of safety threat issued toward the school community.
Dec 14, 2022 - HDSB sends notice to Oakville School Families advising of receipt of safety threat issued toward Oakville school community an beyond.
Dec 14, 2022 - Reports confirm that Lemieux has been substitute teaching at other HDSB schools, including Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School and Abbey Park High School.
Dec 9, 2022 - Video begins to circulate on TikTok showing Kayla Lemieux sitting next to a student in class. The student is openly using a vaping device in the classroom, surrounded by other students, while Lemieux takes no action.
Dec 5, 2022 – Ontario College of Teachers issues review of Oakville teacher who wears huge fake breasts as parents ponder lawsuit
Dec 2, 2022 - School safety update provided from Halton Police via Dave Gittings.
Nov 29, 2022 - Students First Ontario hosted a Community Forum and invited local OTHS parents and friends to meet and share their concerns. The event attracted well over 100 people and gave parents a forum to speak out after being ignored by school administrators and officials since September. Parents were unified and clear in their message: when it comes to the safety & well-being of their children, they will not compromise and they will not allow officials to ignore this issue in the hope that it goes away.
Nov 21, 2022 - OTHS parents, family and friends were invited by Students First Ontario to gather outside of the school today in a show of support for the OT students and staff inside. Attendees shared their frustration with the HDSB's failure to listen to parents' concerns and to take action to de-escalate the situation. An information supplement was shared with parents, it can be viewed here.

Nov 21, 2022 - OTHS has advised that it has received additional online threats and they believe these may continue. Halton police continue to investigate the source of the threats.

Nov 20, 2022 - OTHS has advised families and staff that it has received another bomb threat - the fourth since September. Halton Regional Police Service has searched the school and has given the "all clear".

Nov 17, 2022 - For the second day in a row the school is targeted by a bomb threat and now gun violence. Principal's email to parents states OTHS & HDSB are working to keep schools safe, caring and inclusive spaces.

Nov 16, 2022 - Students are sent home from school due to a threat against Oakville Trafalgar Highschool and the entire city of Oakville. Details in the National Post article.

Nov 9, 2022 - HDSB Superintendent of HR, Sari Taha, says a dress code policy for teachers would be discriminatory & violate their human rights. However, somehow the same does not apply to students. View here.

Nov 8, 2022 – HDSB releases online statement announcing recommendation that no dress code for teachers should be considered, because of discrimination (full report here)

Oct 28, 2022 – HDSB shares Halloween protocols which ironically insist that students "avoid dressing in clothing of the opposite gender that is demeaning. Pretending to be a member of a group for ‘fun’ is evidence of cultural appropriation and sends the message that cultural attire is a ‘costume’ to be donned for entertainment purposes."

Oct 27, 2022 – OTHS School council meeting, censored delegation by OTHS parent.

Oct 20, 2022 – HDSB letter to Stephen Lecce requesting the removal of a clause from the Education Act that says teachers’ duties should include encouraging “love of country” and “Judeo-Christian morality. Suspiciously, this is the exact section of the Act referenced in the parents’ legal letter to Board. (letter found here)

Oct 19, 2022 - First meeting of parents concerned with the situation at OTHS who later formed Students First Ontario.

Oct 19, 2022 - During an online school board meeting, a delegation by OTHS parent regarding Dress Code is censored. (Delegation 11.38 to 24:36)

Oct 17, 2022 – A legal letter is submitted to HDSB from a group of Halton parents via retained lawyer to request a Workplace investigation and inclusion of a Dress Code Policy for Teachers. This letters also cites section 264 (1) which expresses that teachers’ duties should include encouraging “love of country” and “Judeo-Christian morality, as outlined in the Education Act.

Oct 12, 2022 – HDSB School Board meeting is attended by a small group of parents, most of whom do not know one another. Journalist and provocateur, David Menzies interrupts meeting in session to provide a petition signed by 16,000 concerned parents. He is dressed in attire resembling the teacher. The board immediately stops the meeting and exits without accepting the petition. All guests and media are asked to leave.

Oct 5, 2022 - OTHS Peaceful Protest at 2:45pm. Organized independently by #toofar movement.

Sept 30, 2022 - HDSB Board of Trustees Chair, Margo Shuttleworth, addresses letter to parents in regard to the media attention and police presence at OTHS school while failing to acknowledge and address parents' concerns related to the teacher's attire.

Sept 26, 2022 – OTHS Peaceful Protest at 2:45pm. Organized independently by #toofar movement.

Sept 23, 2022 – OTHS Peaceful Protest at 2:45pm. Organized independently by #toofar movement.

Sept 23, 2022 – Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce press conference acknowledges “In this province, in our schools, we celebrate our differences and we also believe that there must be the highest standards of professionalism in front of our kids”. “And on that basis, I’ve asked the Ontario College of Teachers to review and to consider strengthening those provisions with respect to professional conduct which we think would be in the interest of all kids in Ontario.”

Sept 22, 2022 – Parents receive an email from OTHS Principal Meredith Cammisuli which describes the safety precautions being implemented to protect the school. This includes reference to a bomb threat and confirmation that all exterior doors are locked.

Sept 21, 2022 – A small group of parents attend the HDSB Board Meeting to see if the issue will be addressed publicly. The Board acknowledges the situation in Section 7.4 (Directors Report) and the Trustees unanimously carry the following motion: M22-0132 T. Ehl Harrison / T. Rocha. Be it resolved that the Director be requested to return to the board by Nov 2022 with a report addressing various considerations regarding dress codes. ( Sept 21, 2022 public meeting minutes.)

Sept 20, 2022 - HDSB Director Curtis Ennis is interviewed on camera by independent news reporter David Menzies (Rebel News). Ennis confirms “the dress code is for students, and the dress code is not for staff, the dress code is for students”. The Rebel News report confirms that the Student dress code states “no nipples may be visible”. David Menzies interview with Curtis Ennis – time 6:42-8:30)

Sept 20, 2022 - Parents receive an email from OTHS Principal Meredith Cammisuli titled “Community Message” which acknowledges the media attention towards OTHS and the difficulty students may be having. Parents are advised that extra supports are being made available to help students process the media attention if they have been “triggered”.

Sept 19, 2022 – OTHS Peaceful Protest at 2:45pm. Organized independently by #toofar movement. Security and police presence on school property. Teacher is escorted out by police. Several parent eyewitnesses report seeing the teacher remove wig/breasts in the police cruiser.

Sept 19, 2022 - Students return to class on Monday. Reports emerge through parents that school administrators were communicating that the people protesting at the school were “far right” and “transphobic”.

Sept 18, 2022 – Coverage achieves international status with a number of international media outlets picking up the story, including the UK's Daily Mail, France's Le Figaro and US Fox News.

Sept 16, 2022 – Parents receive an email from OTHS Principal Meredith Cammisuli titled “Supporting our Community” which acknowledges the media attention. The email outlines the right to "equitable treatment without discrimination based upon gender identity and gender expression. Gender identity and gender expression are protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code." The email makes no mention of parental/student concerns.

Sept 12-15, 2022 – Video of OTHS Teacher is posted on Tik Tok and later goes viral on many social media platforms. An international media storm ensues, highlighting the extreme nature of this situation perceived by many people locally and abroad.

Sept 6, 2022 – Students begin 2022/23 School year at Oakville Trafalgar High School (OTHS). Some students encounter the new Shop Teacher – K. Lemieux – who wears a wig of blonde hair and large prosthetic breasts to the school while teaching. Conversations begin in many homes of the families. Some students express discomfort at being in school with a teacher dressed in this manner. No information is provided to families by OTHS Administration.

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April 2023

TIMELINE OF EVENTS