York parents demand accused trustee step down

School board investigation accusations Nancy Elgie used racial slur to refer to a black parent after a public meeting

Thestar.com
Dec. 8, 2016
By Noor Javed

Parents and community groups are urging a York Region trustee to step down while the board investigates allegations she used a racial slur while referring to a black parent.

Some are even calling on the education minister to intervene at the troubled board, which has been plagued with accusations in recent months that it does not properly deal with incidents of racism or Islamophobia.

“I’m disturbed. I’m shocked. I’m appalled,” said Shernett Martin of the Vaughan African Canadian Association - which recently launched a human rights complaint against the board alongside the National Council of Canadian Muslims. “They need to clean house at the York Region District School Board.”

And if the allegations against longtime Trustee Nancy Elgie are true, “the fact that somebody with her position and influence could feel so comfortable in the presence of colleagues to utter that word - it’s frightening.”

In the meantime, she said, Elgie should step aside, and if not, the board or education ministry needs to force her.

The York board has brought in outside legal counsel to look into accusations that Elgie, a trustee since 2000, referred to a black parent as a “n-----” in front of others after a public meeting Nov. 22. A report is expected before the end of the year.

Elgie, 82, could not be reached for comment on Thursday. However, reached at her home Wednesday, she told the Star “there is no merit in the accusation, but I will co-operate fully in the investigation.” When asked if she was denying having uttered the slur, she responded: “I’m not saying anything like that... I’m just saying there is no merit in the accusation.”

The long-serving trustee, who is the widow of former Ontario cabinet minister Robert Elgie, represents Georgina. Her son has told the Star his mother “doesn’t have a racist bone in her body” and in fact has “fought for equality her whole life.”

Education Minister Mitzie Hunter said the issues in the York board are of great concern, and “I have expressed disappointment in the situation as it relates to issues of racism and Islamophobia that I have heard from parents, from students, from organizations in York Region.”

She would not say if Elgie should step down. “I think what’s appropriate is the situation is now being reviewed by York Region; my expectation is that there’s an appropriate response from the board and its leadership.”

Newly elected board Chair Loralea Carruthers said the matter was dealt with immediately, with the then-chair taking statements from witnesses and staff who heard the alleged remark.

Bernie Farber of the Mosaic Institute believes the right thing for Elgie to do is to take a leave now.

“She no longer has trust of the black community or anybody who values diversity,” said Farber, who said he hasn’t heard that word being used since the 1950s.

Carruthers told the Star “I take concerns about racism extremely seriously. I have done everything I can in the few short days since the board’s election to continue to reassure parents, students and the community and work with our staff towards solutions.”

She said she’s met with parents “at the centre of this issue to reassure them that positive steps are being taken to move forward to ensure anti-racism education is available for all trustees,” as well as families at the school where the principal posted anti-Muslim material on her public Facebook page.

“Our board recognizes that we must do better to regain public trust,” she said.