Anti-Racism

Comox Valley Schools is committed to anti-racism.

Anti-racism is not a single lesson, event or resource. It is an ongoing commitment to identifying, addressing and preventing racism, discrimination and identity-based harm in our schools.

This work is guided by the district’s commitment to equity, inclusion, safe and caring schools, and non-discrimination. It also aligns with B.C.’s K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan, which supports school communities in building a stronger culture of belonging for all students, staff and families.

Our Commitment

Comox Valley Schools is committed to:

creating safe, welcoming and inclusive schools
responding to racism, discrimination and identity-based harm
supporting students and staff who experience or witness harm
helping students learn how to act as upstanders
providing age-appropriate learning and resources
working with students, families, staff and community partners to strengthen belonging

The district is committed to eliminating discrimination and addressing the effects of historic, organizational, systemic and attitudinal discrimination.

The district’s Student Code of Conduct also expects students to respect diversity, refrain from discrimination and contribute to welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments.

What is Anti-Racism?

Anti-racism means actively identifying, challenging and changing behaviours, practices and systems that create or maintain racism.

It includes learning about racism, listening to people with lived experience, responding when harm happens and working to create school communities where all students can fully participate and belong.

What to Do if You Experience or Witness Racism

If you experience or witness racism or identity-based harm at school, you are encouraged to reach out for help.

You can:

speak with a trusted adult at school
report the incident to a teacher, counsellor, vice-principal or principal
ask for support from a family member or caregiver
document what happened, including when and where it occurred
use available reporting pathways
access support if you have been harmed or affected

Racism and discrimination can happen through words, actions, images, jokes, social media, exclusion, stereotypes, slurs, graffiti, clothing, symbols or repeated patterns of behaviour. Harmful language and behaviour should be addressed, even when someone says they were “just joking.”

Active Witnessing and Bystander Response

Students and adults can help prevent harm by responding safely when they witness racism or discrimination.

Depending on the situation, this may include:

checking in with the person who was harmed
saying that the language or behaviour is not okay
getting help from an adult
not laughing, sharing or repeating harmful comments
interrupting the harm when it is safe to do so
reporting what happened
continuing to support the person afterward

Being an upstander does not mean putting yourself at risk. It means choosing a safe and respectful way to respond.

For Students

Students have the right to learn in a safe, caring and inclusive environment.

If something happens to you or someone else, you do not need to handle it alone. Talk to a trusted adult at school. This could be a teacher, counsellor, administrator, Indigenous support worker, youth and family support worker, coach, educational assistant or another staff member you trust.

Students can also help create belonging by:

using respectful language with everyone at all times
learning about different identities, cultures and histories
speaking up when hearing harmful language
including others, even if they may be a little different in some way
asking questions with care
taking responsibility for causing harm
supporting peers who have been impacted

For Staff

Staff play an important role in creating anti-racist, inclusive and identity-affirming learning environments.

Staff are encouraged to:

respond when racism or harmful language occurs
support students who have been harmed
avoid minimizing or dismissing incidents
use age-appropriate learning resources
create opportunities for respectful classroom discussion
model inclusive language and behaviour
seek support from school and district teams when needed
continue professional learning in anti-racism, equity and inclusion

The B.C. Ministry of Education and Child Care provides anti-racism resources for students, adults and school staff, including the K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan and Learning to Be Anti-Racist: An Introductory Course for district and school employees.

For Families

Families and caregivers are important partners in helping children and youth understand racism, discrimination, identity and belonging.

Families can support this work by:

asking about what they are seeing, hearing and experiencing at school and online
encouraging children to tell a trusted adult when harm happens
helping children understand the impact of harmful language
contacting the school if their child experiences or witnesses racism
continuing conversations at home in age-appropriate ways
talking with children about respect and inclusion

If your child has experienced or witnessed racism or identity-based harm, please contact your school principal or another trusted staff member so the school can respond and provide support.

Learning Resources

This page will continue to grow as district-approved resources are added for students, staff, classrooms, counselling spaces, libraries, school offices and families.

Resources may include:

what to do if you witness racism or identity-based harm
how to respond to harmful language
active witnessing and bystander strategies
classroom discussion starters
age-appropriate anti-racism and anti-hate learning resources
reporting and support pathways
family conversation guides

Resources will be selected with attention to age and grade appropriateness, including materials for middle and secondary students. Grades 8 and 9 are an important age range for proactive learning, as harmful language, peer influence and identity-based harm can become more visible during these years.

Provincial Resources

Provincial Resources

The B.C. Ministry of Education and Child Care’s K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan is a multi-year framework to address racism and discrimination in education and create a culture and climate of belonging for students, staff and families. The plan includes priority areas such as community voice, removing barriers, raising awareness, collaborative change, capacity building and school support.

The provincial erase anti-racism page also provides resources for students, adults and school staff.

Related District Policies and Procedures

Related District Policies and Procedures

Equity and Non-Discrimination Policy 24
Administrative Procedure 170: Equity and Non-Discrimination
Administrative Procedure 172: Safe, Caring and Orderly Schools
Administrative Procedure 350: District Student Code of Conduct

These policies and procedures support the district’s commitment to safe, inclusive and discrimination-free learning environments.

Anti-Racism

Anti-Racism

COMOX VALLEY SCHOOLS