Email to Minister of Education

Subject: Demand for resignation of Ottawa Carleton District School Board trustee Donna Blackburn

Body:

Dear Minister Lecce,

I am writing to request your support for the immediate resignation of Barrhaven/Knoxdale-Merivale trustee Donna Blackburn in response to her repeated violations of the OCDSB Code of Conduct, culminating in her actions on Friday, March 27, 2020.

On Friday, trustee Blackburn confronted a young man of African descent playing basketball by himself in a Barrhaven park. She accused the young man of violating COVID-19 social distancing protocol, interrogated and threatened him and took his picture without his consent. She then posted her version of events on Facebook, including the comment:

“So I had to go to the drugstore for an essential and then bought deodorant. I am sure my pets love me no matter what I smell like. When I got home people playing basketball in the park. Went over to politely ask them to leave, kid gave me attitude and played dumb. Then I said, parlez-voux francais? Yeh kid I can argue in both official languages.” (sic)

In her post, she also revealed what school the boy had previously attended.

According to the boy’s father, and clearly evident from the picture taken by Blackburn herself, his son was in fact at the park by himself as he had specifically looked for a hoop with no one around.

The boy also told his father that Blackburn said, “Oh you’re graduating? If you are, I will be at the graduation ceremony and I will trip you before you get your diploma.” and “You’re going to go to Innes road”, clearly making the racist insinuation that, because he is Black, the young man is destined to end up in Ottawa’s detention centre.

Blackburn’s actions violate Board policy on a number of fronts.

The Board’s Code of Conduct states that, “It is a policy of the Board that a positive school climate exists when all members of the school community feel safe, comfortable, accepted and valued.” As Blackburn is the trustee for the school the boy attends, her actions will certainly make him feel the exact opposite. This clearly contravenes the Board’s position that, “mental health and well-being are important to learning and life” and that it “strives to enhance students’ sense of belonging…sense of self…and resilience…within an inclusive, safe and caring learning environment.”

The standards of behaviour in the Code fall into two categories: things that people should do and things they should not do. It states that all members of the school community should at all times, act with decorum and be respectful of other Board members, staff, students and the public. The Code also says that school community members should not engage in bullying behaviours and what Blackburn did was clearly bullying.

Trustee Blackburn’s actions also violate the Board’s privacy policy which states that members of the school community should, “…practice good digital citizenship by being respectful when they post photos of others, which includes only posting photos involving…students with permission.”

This is not the first time that trustee Blackburn has run afoul of Board policy. In December 2016, Blackburn was forced to apologize for accusing her Board colleague, Erica Braunovan, of “buying her children” after Braunovan adopted two young daughters from Guyana. Then, a year later, in December 2017, Braunovan filed another complaint against Blackburn for emails Blackburn sent her that, once again, violated the Board’s Code.

Enough is enough.

Trustee Blackburn’s behaviour is reminiscent of racial profiling in this country that is often cloaked as motivated by “community protection.”

The community appreciates the OCDSB Director of Education reaching out to the young man’s family to ensure his well-being and the District asking the OCDSB Human Rights and Equity Advisor to review this matter.

However, we also understand that the Chair has reached out to the trustee Blackburn to request that she consider whether she wishes to initiate any action to bring a resolution to this matter. We hope that trustee Blackburn makes the right decision to step down.

Clearly, trustee Blackburn is not fit to be a member of a board tasked with providing a positive school climate where all members feel safe, comfortable, accepted and valued. However, Blackburn’s behaviour, and the fact that she has remained a trustee for so long despite it, is a symptom of the larger problem of systemic discrimination and anti-Black racism in the OCDSB. Blackburn’s removal won’t solve the problem completely – but it will certainly be a welcome step in the right direction. This action would reestablish the Black community’s trust in the OCDSB as an institution meant to safeguard the well being of our children.

Therefore, we call on Blackburn to immediately resign before she can do any more damage to anyone else or the Board’s reputation.

Regards,