Bill 10 protest draws hundreds to McDougall Centre

Hundreds of people gathered outside of the McDougall Centre on Saturday afternoon for the 'Peaceful Rally to Protect Alberta Children'

An announced crowd of 1,500 people, including children accompanied by their parents, gathered outside the McDougall Centre on Saturday afternoon to voice their concerns with Bill 10.

“I’m here for my family,” said participant James Scott. “I think it’s important that parents, like my wife and myself, should be able to have a choice as far as being included in what our children are involved in.”

The ‘Peaceful Rally to Protect Alberta Children by Upholding Parental Rights’ protest was a response to the bill that permits gay-straight alliances to exist in schools at the request of students without the required permission of the school board or parents. Members of gay-straight alliances are currently not required to disclose their participation to their parents or guardians.

“Policies are being written in school boards across this province that are coercing teachers and educators not to inform parents when their children are suffering from anxiety, depression, bullying or any sort of discomfort around sexual identity,” said Donna Trimble of Parents for Choice In Education during her address.

Representatives of Parents for Choice in Education say they take issue with the fact Bill 10 was passed in March 2015 without public consultation. The group wants the bill amended to ensure parents are able to determine the type of education their children receive.

Calgary’s rally, which concluded with a peaceful march to city hall, occurred in conjunction with a demonstration in Edmonton outside of the Legislature.