Following Minister of Education Lisa Beare’s threat to remove the Greater Victoria School Board, activists, teachers, and passers-by gathered outside ministry headquarters to protest the likely re-implementation of the school police liaison officer program. In December, the minister designated a special advisor to collaborate with the board on developing a safety strategy, which was due by January 6. The board submitted three independent safety plans to the government within the deadline, and they are currently being reviewed. The action comes after the board removed school police liaison officers (SPLO) from schools in 2023, sparking protests and worries among local police and parents over an increase in gang activity in South Island schools.

At the ministry protest on Friday, Jan. 10, attendees questioned the lack of proof on whether school cops genuinely made schools safer, and they expressed alarm over the government’s “overreach” in threatening to remove democratically elected school trustees. “There’s no evidence that these programs actually work, right?” said Alyx MacAdams, who helped organize the event. “And what we do have a little bit of evidence about, is that there’s students who feel less safe when there’s police officers in schools, and this in particular impacts BIPOC students and LGBTQ students.”

Kasari Govender, the B.C. Human Rights Commissioner, recommended that the SPLO program be removed. In 2021, she listed many studies and surveys, largely from the United States and one from Vancouver, in which children who identified as people of colour indicated negative views and experiences with the school liaison program, suggesting to broader concerns about the program’s ties to policing. Matthew Christie, a teacher and rally speaker, stated that difficulties involving children becoming involved in gangs and drugs are primarily the result of socioeconomic problems that cannot be handled through increased enforcement. “[Police] were being employed for anything from mentoring children at times to dispute resolution, behavioural supports, and running programs like the D.A.R.E. program, which is a program, which is a drug abstinence program. And so… What are their credentials for that?” he asked the crowd.

He presented a tale of how a symphony member came to his class last year to show his kids his instrument and converse, which piqued the students’ interest and proved successful. This year, however, budget did not allow for a symphony speaker to return. “Instead of giving the funding to counsellors, instead of giving it to the music programs, instead of giving it to community organizations that can actually support students and help their mental health, help them in the ways that they need to become successful, thriving citizens, they’re like, ‘Let’s get some fucking police in there, let’s criminalize these kids,'” Christie claimed, to the delight of the group of people. The Greater Victoria Teachers Association, a union that represents local has also shared concerns regarding the rhetoric recently promoted by the minister

In a news release, GVTA President Carolyn Howe stated, “Over the last several months, I have been dismayed at the amount of misinformation and division that has been spread in an effort to reinstate the former SLO program.” “Having the minister take action to dismiss them after this lobbying would have a chilling effect on other school boards, municipal governments, and other organizations who wish to critically examine the role of policing in community settings and implement oversight and reforms.”

The organization also highlighted the board’s activities since their election, which included sponsoring music programs, supporting educational assistant funding, boosting custodial time, providing spaces for neighbourhood children, and fighting for further education money from the government. “Any decision to dismiss the SD61 board of trustees would not only overlook their substantial achievements but would also set a troubling precedent, undermine the democratic process, erode public trust and ultimately do more harm than good,” according to the announcement. In a statement made on Jan. 10, Beare stated that the safety plans, as well as the special advisor’s report, are being reviewed. “I appreciate the several views raised this week as we continue to work on a route forward in Victoria. My focus is on the safety of students. students and staff in School District 61. Safety remains my highest priority, and I recognize the urgency in addressing this issue,” she noted.