Winnipeg School Division moves graduation ceremonies, events out of churches to be more inclusive 

Winnipeg School Division has asked its schools to change the venue for their graduation ceremonies from churches to an alternative space this school year in an effort to be more inclusive. The decision stems from requests it received from parents who said that they were uncomfortable with going into churches to attend events. “After we’ve begun these conversations about the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis experience across the territories, you do get to a point where you begin to wonder about the manner in which we celebrate things and the way we observe things,” said University of Manitoba Professor Frank Deer, who noted that “this might be one of the next steps in the reconciliatory journey.” Schools may use spaces such as universities or the RBC Convention Centre for high school graduations, while K-8 schools may use the division’s own spaces.

CBC