Catholic Schools Superintendent tells teachers, chaperones to avoid Rainbow Tent at Children's Fest
Principals were told to "speak personally" to teachers and parent chaperones and "inform them that the Rainbow Tent should not be part of their visit."
Author of the article:Julia Peterson
Published May 25, 2023 •
Children sit with a performer at the 2022 Nutrien Children's Festival.
PHOTO BY MATT SMITH /Saskatoon StarPhoenix
An email from Superintendent of Education Tom Hickey to the principals of Saskatoon Catholic elementary schools says teachers and parent chaperones are not to take students to the “Rainbow Tent” at the Nutrien Children’s Festival this year.
“Based on the description on the festival website, engagement and participation by our students in that particular onsite offering would not be supported,” Hickey wrote on May 17.
The Rainbow Tent is one of many activities offered at the Children’s Festival, which takes place in Kinsmen Park from June 1 to 4.
“From Drag Queen Storytime to inclusive dress up performances filled with colour and fun, this tent is full of rainbows,” was the entire description of the Rainbow Tent on the festival website at the time Hickey’s email was sent.
It advised principals to “speak personally” to teachers and parent chaperones taking students to the festival, and “inform them that the Rainbow Tent should not be part of their visit.”
Former student Kate Hofstra said she was “gutted” when she saw Hickey’s email, which has been circulating on social media.
“I was just so sad,” said Hofstra. “I loved that teacher. He was my homeroom teacher in high school
“(And) I just hope that, whatever the intention was, he knows this is so hurtful for our family.”
Hofstra and her wife have a four-year-old son who starts school in the fall.
“I grew up Catholic, and I like the traditions of being in a Catholic school — but these specific reasons are the reasons he’s not going to a Catholic school,” she said.
Students deserve to see all sorts of families and identities represented and celebrated, rather than being hidden away, she added.
“To be going to a children’s festival and being told you’re not allowed to go in that tent — because of the potential that you might see some representation of what you live every day — is so scary to think about,” said Hofstra. “It’s scary to think that a totally normal family like ours would be under attack in such an innocent atmosphere.”
Seth Rabby-Dowling, dad to a transgender student currently enrolled in the Saskatoon Catholic system, said Hickey’s email was “ridiculous” and “not something I’m OK with.”
His daughter’s high school experience has been roundly positive, with supportive faculty, staff and classmates, so hearing about the superintendent’s directive against visits to the Rainbow Tent seemed “so out of left field,” he said.
“Purposefully avoiding the rainbow tent doesn’t seem like something the Catholic schools would be okay with, (and) it doesn’t seem right to me,” said Rabby-Dowling. “I don’t think there should be a problem with going to the Rainbow Tent.”
On Thursday, the Nutrien Children’s Festival reiterated its commitment to the Rainbow Tent and inclusive activities.
“Every child is welcome at the festival and as such, we curate our programming to reflect who we are and who we aspire to become as a community,” organizers said in a statement. “We believe that every child should feel heard, loved, accepted and supported and we work hard to provide performances and activities that support this belief.”
Festival organizers also offered a reminder that “all are welcome” at the festival, and there will be “rigorous security standards and protocols” on site to ensure the safety of all attendees.
Multiple attempts were made to contact Hickey and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools for comment. All phone calls were transferred to voicemail.
An email from Superintendent of Education Tom Hickey to the principals of Saskatoon Catholic elementary schools says teachers and parent chaperones are not to take students to the “Rainbow Tent” at the Nutrien Children’s Festival this year.
“Based on the description on the festival website, engagement and participation by our students in that particular onsite offering would not be supported,” Hickey wrote on May 17.
The Rainbow Tent is one of many activities offered at the Children’s Festival, which takes place in Kinsmen Park from June 1 to 4.
“From Drag Queen Storytime to inclusive dress up performances filled with colour and fun, this tent is full of rainbows,” was the entire description of the Rainbow Tent on the festival website at the time Hickey’s email was sent.
It advised principals to “speak personally” to teachers and parent chaperones taking students to the festival, and “inform them that the Rainbow Tent should not be part of their visit.”
A screenshot of an email sent by GSCD Superintendent of Education Tom Hickey, advising school principals that “the Rainbow Tent should not be part of their visit” to the Nutrien Children’s Festival this year. PHOTO BY SUBMITTED BY KATE HOFSTRA
Former student Kate Hofstra said she was “gutted” when she saw Hickey’s email, which has been circulating on social media.
“I was just so sad,” said Hofstra. “I loved that teacher. He was my homeroom teacher in high school
“(And) I just hope that, whatever the intention was, he knows this is so hurtful for our family.”
Hofstra and her wife have a four-year-old son who starts school in the fall.
“I grew up Catholic, and I like the traditions of being in a Catholic school — but these specific reasons are the reasons he’s not going to a Catholic school,” she said.
Students deserve to see all sorts of families and identities represented and celebrated, rather than being hidden away, she added.
“To be going to a children’s festival and being told you’re not allowed to go in that tent — because of the potential that you might see some representation of what you live every day — is so scary to think about,” said Hofstra. “It’s scary to think that a totally normal family like ours would be under attack in such an innocent atmosphere.”
Seth Rabby-Dowling, dad to a transgender student currently enrolled in the Saskatoon Catholic system, said Hickey’s email was “ridiculous” and “not something I’m OK with.”
His daughter’s high school experience has been roundly positive, with supportive faculty, staff and classmates, so hearing about the superintendent’s directive against visits to the Rainbow Tent seemed “so out of left field,” he said.
“Purposefully avoiding the rainbow tent doesn’t seem like something the Catholic schools would be okay with, (and) it doesn’t seem right to me,” said Rabby-Dowling. “I don’t think there should be a problem with going to the Rainbow Tent.”
On Thursday, the Nutrien Children’s Festival reiterated its commitment to the Rainbow Tent and inclusive activities.
“Every child is welcome at the festival and as such, we curate our programming to reflect who we are and who we aspire to become as a community,” organizers said in a statement. “We believe that every child should feel heard, loved, accepted and supported and we work hard to provide performances and activities that support this belief.”
Festival organizers also offered a reminder that “all are welcome” at the festival, and there will be “rigorous security standards and protocols” on site to ensure the safety of all attendees.
Multiple attempts were made to contact Hickey and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools for comment. All phone calls were transferred to voicemail.
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