The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) has announced that it will expand its mandatory Grade 11 Indigenous English course to more schools after a successful first year. Throughout 2024-25, English teachers offering the course have been supported with ongoing drop-in sessions and a day of professional development each semester; a working group also planned a series of workshops that touched on topics such as structuring the course and ensuring cultural safety. The course will be implemented at nine additional schools in 2025-26 and then at all schools across the district in 2026-27. TVDSB Learning Co-ordinator for Indigenous Education and Literacy Kerry Day shared that students in the course have developed a deeper appreciation of Indigenous histories, identities, and treaties. “I’m so proud of the fact [that TVDSB educators] actually have an Indigenous course because now … the world gets to see who we are,” said TVDSB Indigenous trustee Gina McGahey.
