Families on March Break protest controversial boundary changes at Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

Parents and kids gather to protest the OCDSB’s controversial elementary school restructuring plan. CTV’s Kimberley Fowler reports.

A protest against the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s (OCDSB) controversial elementary school restructuring plan took place Friday afternoon, with dozens of parents and children coming out on the last weekday of March Break.

The OCDSB elementary program review proposes changes to the boundaries for more than 100 schools, as well as changes to specialized programs, French immersion programming, and grade structures, requiring thousands of students switch schools. Some younger students would be required to switch schools earlier than expected, sometimes without their siblings.

It’s estimated around 11,000 students would be required to change schools as a result of the changes, roughly 5,000 more than in a typical year.

Thirty schools would be affected by the proposed changes to grade structures, while the boundary changes would affect 198 programs in 123 schools across the school board.

Friday’s protest was held at the OCDSB office on Greenbank Road.

“The boundary changes really seem to be created in a very, antithetical way to actually keeping people in their communities,” said parent Matt Ferguson.

Ferguson adds the proposed new boundaries unfairly divide his neighbourhood.

“We chose to move into Leslie Park (neighbourhood) so that we could take our daughter to Brier Green (public school). It’s where all of her friends were, it’s where our community is. Now we’re being told that even though that’s our community, and that’s where my daughter is comfortable, and she has her home and her friends and her support group, we’re now going to have to move to Knoxdale (public school), which is a fantastic school, but it’s not ours and it’s not our community,” Ferguson added.

Grade six student, Quin Howes-Chande, opposes the changes which will see him not only be separated from his friends, but his siblings too.

“It’s making a big splash because my parents are going to have to, really, massively adjust because it affects them as working people. Sometimes, I babysit my siblings and I take them to the bus stop and back, and if I’m not there, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “It’s very silly and I just don’t really understand why the boundaries are changing. They have no good reason to do this. What they need to do is delay the vote and think about it.”

“What really sparked our concern was on January 29th, when they announced that they were proposing to close the alternative program, a program that’s been in place for 41 years, and been giving families choices for 41 years in education. And it’s a safe haven for parents and kids that want to learn a different way,” said parent Sarah Boardman, adding that her son has a disability and belongs to the program.

“They’ve done nothing but obfuscate and lie to us this whole time and really skirt the program accommodation guidelines. Four of the eight public consultation processes and meetings were actually done within 48 hours of March break ... when people are trying to get out the door and I feel very strongly that that was done on purpose.”

The OCDSB said earlier this week it is taking another look at the plan, taking feedback from upcoming consultations and an online survey to see if any adjustments can be made.

The board is expected to make a final decision on the restructuring plan next month. Some Ottawa parents have sent a letter to Education Minister Jill Dunlop, asking the ministry to review the proposed changes and delay next month’s vote.

Public consultations

Monday, March 17 (In-Person)

• Daytime session (12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.) at the Rideau Community Hub
• Evening Session (7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.) at Brookfield High School and Longfield-Davidson Heights Secondary School

Monday, March 24, 2025 (Virtual)

• Daytime session (12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.) in a virtual format. Register now.
• Evening session (7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.) in a virtual format. Register now.