Skip to content

Catholic school board apologizes for 'offensive' printed materials provided to some Bishop Macdonell students

Board head says it was material containing "offensive" language
20180425 Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School KA
Bishop Macdonell Catholic Hight School seen in this file photo. Kenneth Armstorng/GuelphToday

The director of the local Catholic school board says offensive printed materials that were handed out at a local high school should not have been distributed and the principal of the school promised in a letter to parents it will not happen again.

On Wednesday a panel of experts presented an information session to students at Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School intended to dispel misconceptions and myths about drug use.

Harm reduction literature handed out after the presentation was not intended for distribution to students of that age, said Tamara Nugent, Director of Education for the Wellington Catholic District School Board. 

“It was written material with offensive language,” said Nugent.

Some parents received an automated phone call from the school Wednesday evening explaining what had happened.

The presentation was made by a panel that included Guelph Police Service, Specialized Outreach Services, Sanguen Health Centre, Stonehenge Therapeutic Community and Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy team.

Nugent declined to give specifics of what the material said that was offensive, but she noted only written materials were distributed — not condoms or lubricant, as some have reported to GuelphToday.

In a letter sent to parents of Bishop Mac students on Thursday, principal Steve Gulyas said school staff intervened when they became aware unauthorized materials were being distributed.

“The school has received letters of sincere apology on behalf of the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy team and the agency who inadvertently made the information available," the letter stated.

Nugent said she doesn’t want to take away from the positive message around drug awareness, which was the intent of the presentation.

“We want to keep the focus on the message around drug use,” said Nugent.

Adrienne Crowder, manager of the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy provided the following statement to GuelphToday.

"The Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy commits to ensuring that all materials it shares when invited to work within the environment of a community partner are closely aligned with the values of that partner. We apologize for any distress this incident has caused, and we look forward to continuing and strengthening our valuable partnership with the WCDSB," said the statement. 

GuelphToday reached out to Bishop Mac principal Steve Gulyas for comment on Thursday, but did not hear back.


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.