Ontario students protest schools’ decision to cancel prom

Dozens of Brooklin High School students walked out of class last week in protest against the school’s decision to cancel prom.

Students in Whitby, Ont., walked out of class Monday to protest a recent decision by administrators at three schools in Durham Region to cancel prom.

In a letter to Grade 12 families of Brooklin, Brock, and Uxbridge high schools dated Oct. 3, the principals wrote that the choice to axe the event was made due to the “growing expectations, liabilities, and risks” connected to hosting it.

“Beginning this year, our school will be moving away from organizing a formal prom,” the letter, which surfaced online, reads in part.

The decision blindsided Brooklin High School Grade 12 students Amelia Gatti and Lauren Robertson, who organized the walkout and spoke to CTV’s Your Morning on Tuesday.

“This whole thing came very unexpectedly on a Friday at four (p.m.) with no real reasoning behind it,” Gatti said. “I mean, we haven’t really had an incident that could suggest this outcome for our prom event to be paused or cancelled.”

“There wasn’t much like explanation to it,” added Robertson, who noted that her family has since launched a petition to reverse the schools’ decision, which she said has amassed 2,700 signatures at time of writing.

“Prom was taken away from us, right? At some point, it was gone, and we thought that it wasn’t going to happen again, until people stepped up. I feel like we deserve to be compensated for that, and in return, have a prom that we’ll never forget,” Gatti said.

The schools said that while their “reimagining” of end-of-year celebrations may be “disappointing for some and welcomed by others,” they underscored that communities are free to organize their own celebrations.

Board asks schools to ‘pause’ prom cancellation decision

In a statement to CTV News Toronto, the Durham District School Board, of which Brooklin, Brock, and Uxbridge high schools are a part, said it has asked the schools to “pause” the decision.

“We support change but have asked these schools to pause and to schedule opportunities to sit down with students and staff to understand the concerns and to explore meaningful alternatives or adjustments that reflect our shared values and priorities,” a spokesperson said in an email.

The board went on to say that it wants to “ensure” that student voices are heard and that the “spirit of celebration and recognition remains at the heart of these occasions.”

The board did not say whether or not the schools had responded to its request.

It’s unclear when exactly students will have an opportunity to voice their concerns directly with their school administrators.