Ottawa school board 'moving in right direction' against antisemitism, Jewish org says

• Published date: 23 January 2023

The position was approved in response to multiple recent antisemitic incidents at an Ottawa high school

"The OCDSB is moving in the right direction," B'nai Brith Canada CEO Michael Mostyn said. "Although we are concerned by the ongoing antisemitism crisis in the schools, the creation of a professional position to address this specific form of hate is undoubtedly a positive development."

Last week, the principal of Sir Robert Borden High School announced that an antisemitic anonymous Instagram account targeting students had been reported to the Ottawa police department. In an email to parents, he added that similar accounts had been shut down in the past.

The account, which contained rumors, gossip and hateful comments about students at the school is now the subject of a police hate crimes unit investigation, the Ottawa Citizen reported.

In early January, two students from the high school were charged with hate crimes in connection with the display of a swastika at the school in December.

Ottawa police said in a statement that the students were charged with public incitement of hatred, mischief, and criminal harassment. The incident occurred on December 1 of last year. It was described as a "blatant act of antisemitism, which is absolutely unacceptable" by the school's principal Matthew Gagnier.

B'nai Brith noted that the JEC is the latest...