A new school club accepts and supports you for who you are.
The Diversity Alliance at Lawrence Grassi Middle School’s (LGMS) mandate is simple: to support and educate each other in a welcoming environment.
Members of the new alliance, which began to hold meetings after spring break, have aimed to create a greater open mind atmosphere at the Canmore school on diverse demographics.
One of the club’s young founders, Grade 8 student Skylar Dow, who is also the alliance’s vice-president, has been amazed at how well the startup was received throughout the school.
“My friend Hailey, who is president of the club, thought it would be a good idea to educate her class on it and then she told me and I started working on it with her,” said Dow.
The alliance meets every other Thursday at lunchtime and has about 20 members consistently attend. Along with the students, three faculty members oversee the meetings.
Dow loves seeing how the once small seed of an idea has blossomed into something “so big.”
Ask any of the Diversity Alliance why they attend and the response is overwhelmingly, “to support one another.”
Its various topics of discussion include, but aren’t limited to, race and sexuality, among others.
“I think it’s creating a safe place for everyone to express their uniqueness,” said LGMS principal Nadine Trottier. “Even if students decide to attend or not on a regular basis, I think it’s like a safety net to know that this is available if I feel that (they’re) being a victim of discrimination in any way, shape or form.”
The Diversity Alliance started to meet after March break, but the process to create it was initiated nearly half a year ago.
Trottier was first approached about the alliance last December and, after the initial process, the idea started to gain traction and they sought help from a sister school a few blocks away (Canmore Collegiate High School).
CCHS has a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), so aspirants at LGMS received tips from them on how the GSA operates.
From there, the Diversity Alliance organized a presentation to give in front of LGMS Grade 7 and 8 classrooms.
The alliance had prepared and braced for snickers and jokes, but were thrilled at how well the presentations were received.
LGMS is a Grade 4-8 school and students in Grade 4-6 must receive parental permission to join, while Grade 7-8 students can join freely.
“The education piece is the main focus – to educate other staff members, students, teachers with regards to all the diversities that are out there,” said Trottier.
At Canadian Rockies Public Schools (CRPS), a mandate over the past few years has been to give students a platform for a stronger voice.
After all, who better to speak to the needs and concerns of students than, well, students.
At a CRPS retreat in April, Dow gave a presentation about the Diversity Alliance in front of senior administration and school board trustee members.
The presentation had them “blown away” by the time she was finished, said Carol Picard, chair of the trustees.
“We were absolutely astounded,” said Picard. “It’s extremely courageous, kids struggle with self identify.
“(Dow) perceived a need for the alliance in her school. I can attest to middle school years as tough years … it’s all about being accepted and not perceived as different,” said Picard.
The ‘tween and teen years are challenging for individuals seeking acceptance among their peers, said Picard.
Along with puberty quickly comes hormonal and body changes, whether they’re ready or not.
CRPS is the second school division in Alberta to pass a procedure on Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transsexual and Queer acceptance and in-school clubs in 2013.
The LGMS Diversity Alliance is one of the youngest clubs of its kind in the province.
One other club in Edmonton at the Oliver School, has had a GSA club at the middle school for the past three years.
