What Horror Movie Is This From?
New Gender Neutral Washrooms - Open house this Friday
Yes, you may think you are going to see the twins from the Shining standing at the end of this hall, however more than likely, you will just see boys and girls intermingling as they go to the washroom, get changed, or have a shower. (Not a sentence most would have been uttered 7 years ago)
We all know that there is some psychological war on beauty and aesthetics raging on. We are drawn to downtown Victoria for the old buildings, or Europe for the same reason; whereas, here we like our boxy grey and black buildings that blend in with West Coast gloom, such as the new high school does.
Anyway, back to the bathrooms and esthetics…. here is the new gender-neutral washrooms at Cowichan high school - dark as the possible outfall from having them may be.
Go see for yourself - Open House invitation to view the new Cowichan Secondary School - Friday, February 7th, 4-6pm.
LINK TO A QUICK TOUR BY A STUDENT HERE
Back in January of 2023 a large group of parents and grandparent showed up to a board meeting to ask questions, and share their thoughts around the new school, their worries around the gender-neutral washrooms, and the Island Health building to be on the same campus. Ironically, that was the last meeting parents were allowed into in person, and the recording was pulled from that meeting.
Parents expressed their deep concern for the new washrooms, and the many issues they could cause. Reflecting on the fact that the current highs school and middle school already had issues with kids going into them to vape, parents suggested how even more nefarious things could happen with these floor to ceiling stalls - where all sexes could roam outside each stall. All one has to do is to think back to your teenage years - what could YOU imagine doing/going on in these stalls?
Not to mention, what happened to safe spaces for each sex, while still offering an option for those who identify differently? Such as was the case in 2017, when logic prevailed:
“In the Central Okanagan School District, Baxter said there was virtually no controversy over this change.
"We have all used gender-neutral washrooms over and over again," Baxter said, pointing out gender-neutral washrooms exist in our homes, on airplanes and in other public places.
"It's not going to be that we're going to have boys and girls and men and women going into the same [multi-stall] washroom," she said.
"These are about the single stall washrooms that we have in our sites and in our school district." LINK
Of course no parents would have an issue with a third option for a washroom, but SD79, known for its DEI (Diversity Equity Inclusion) tunnel vision, seems to value virtue signaling over basic common sense. What will happen in these washrooms? What CAN happen in these washrooms? I guess it is like the horrible intersection where everyone knows you need an advanced turn light, but the powers that be wait for the first bad crash to install it …
Judging by the Facebook comments after the children moved into the new high school this week, the VAST majority of parents were not aware of these washrooms, and were very against them - it was actually surprising how many parents were upset and not scared to express themselves on this post! (it seems cancel culture may be losing some of its momentum?)
Were there always possible issues? Sure, there were kids that got “swirlys” , yet generally bathrooms were a place for each sex to go to too mingle, chat, do makeup etc. This is a whole other level of experiences now removed.
With floor to ceiling doors, how can teachers come in and check under stall doors as they used to? Reach a child in an emergency quickly? Albeit the doors do look thin enough to be kicked in with a little bit of force, IF you were aware something was happening - which would not be the case with a seizure or heart attack as you would with open stalls previously. (to name a few possibilities.)
Restaurants, Bars, BC Ferries, movie theaters, corporate offices etc. all have stalls with the bottoms open ( or at least USED to) - ask yourself why?
EVERY child needs to feel safe.
With the worries expressed to us from parents all over the district, we had a NOL made up for anyone who would like to use it (just copy and paste).
NOTICE OF LIABILITY
To: Board of Trustees, School District 79 (Cowichan Valley)
CC: Superintendent, Principal of Cowichan High School
From: [Your Name or Organization]
Date: [Insert Date]
Subject: Notice of Liability – Safety & Legal Concerns Regarding Gender-Neutral Facilities at Cowichan High School
Introduction
This notice serves as a formal statement of liability addressed to the Board of Trustees of School District 79 (SD79) regarding the recent implementation of gender-neutral washrooms, showers, and change rooms with floor-to-ceiling doors at Cowichan High School. While the intention may be inclusivity, this decision presents serious safety risks that may result in legal consequences for SD79 and its board members.
Additionally, this policy may violate the BC Human Rights Code by failing to provide gender-specific alternatives for students whose privacy, comfort, and safety are compromised by the design of these washrooms.
BC Human Rights Code & Legal Considerations
In British Columbia, the Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in public services, including educational institutions such as schools.
Section 8 of the BC Human Rights Code states that a person must not be denied accommodation, service, or facility that is available to the public based on gender identity or expression, sex, or other protected grounds. This includes washrooms and change rooms in schools.
The BC Human Rights Tribunal provides assistance for individuals filing complaints regarding discriminatory washroom policies in schools.
The Canadian Human Rights Act also protects gender identity and gender expression, making it a violation to prevent someone from using a gendered washroom or to limit access based on perceived anatomy.
By failing to provide adequate gender-specific alternatives, SD79 may be violating student rights under the BC Human Rights Code by forcing students into a single washroom model that disregards privacy and safety concerns.
Identified Risks of Floor-to-Ceiling Washrooms & Showers
By approving this policy, SD79 has created an environment that increases the likelihood of:
Sexual Harassment & Assault – Fully enclosed stalls allow for unmonitored interactions, creating opportunities for harassment, intimidation, or assault.
Student Exploitation & Coercion – Private, enclosed spaces increase the risk of coerced sexual activity, bullying, or grooming by peers or older students.
Physical Harm & Confinement – Students may be trapped, assaulted, or harmed in these stalls, especially in cases of bullying or hazing.
Unauthorized Recordings & Privacy Violations – The risk of secret recordings (hidden cameras, cell phone misuse) increases in these unmonitored private areas.
Predatory Behavior & Loitering – The lack of gender-specific spaces may encourage predatory individuals to exploit the shared environment, making students vulnerable to intimidation.
Delayed Emergency Response – Floor-to-ceiling doors prevent staff or emergency responders from quickly intervening if a student is in distress.
Harassment & Intimidation Outside Stalls – Mixed-use facilities create situations where students may be harassed, followed, or intimidated while using the washroom.
Violation of Student Rights & Parental Consent – The absence of gender-specific options ignores the rights of students who feel uncomfortable, violating their right to bodily privacy and security.
Failure to Provide Safe Alternatives – SD79 has failed to offer reasonable accommodations for students who feel unsafe in these facilities, opening the door for human rights and discrimination claims.
Legal & Financial Liabilities
The Board of Trustees of SD79 and other responsible parties may be held legally and financially liable for any harm, injury, or violations that occur as a direct result of these facilities. This includes:
Negligence claims if a student is harmed due to lack of safeguards.
Human rights complaints for failing to provide reasonable accommodations for students' privacy rights.
Lawsuits by parents for endangering children.
Financial liability for damages, including medical, legal, and emotional trauma costs.
Required Actions
To mitigate liability, SD79 must take immediate action to:
Reinstate gender-specific facilities or provide alternative private options that respect all students' rights under the BC Human Rights Code.
Implement enhanced supervision measures to ensure student safety.
Establish emergency response protocols for enclosed stalls.
Engage in public consultation with parents, staff, and legal experts.
Notice of Personal Accountability
By proceeding with this policy despite clear safety concerns, each board member who voted in favor of these facilities may be held personally liable for any harm that results. This document serves as formal notice that failure to act may result in legal consequences.
A lack of response to this notice will be regarded as willful negligence.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Sincerely,
Team COAP
I sent the NOL with this cover letter:
This is formal notification that you have ignored the will of parents and gone ahead and implemented an unsafe environment for our children at the new school.
Despite your claims of inclusion, you have excluded the majority of parents with this dangerous and arrogant policy implementation.
When parents raised their concerns you acted like thugs, shutting out parents from board meetings, vilifying and slandering parents who simply hold a different view than yours. Your behaviour is reprehensible and your are being held accountable.
When children are harmed in these dangerous bathrooms because you point blank refused to accommodate the majority who want access to safe gendered bathrooms, you will be entirely responsible. You wilfully denied our children the safety that gendered bathrooms provide, knowing that it is dangerous and counter to the will of the majority of parents and students.
Paul O'Rorke
Didn't they just fire the Vic school board?