Hundreds of Winnipeg students absent due to spread of 'misinformation', school division says
Hundreds of students in Winnipeg were absent Wednesday due to 'misinformation' and pressure in the community amid widespread protests and counterprotests over gender identity in the classroom, school officials say.
In the Seven Oaks School Division, more than 1,000 kids didn't show up to school Wednesday. Division Superintendent Brian O'Leary says most absences were among the division's schools with a significant South Asian population.
It came as thousands marched in protests and counter protests across the country, including here in Winnipeg.
READ MORE: Manitobans taking part in protests, counterprotests over LGBTQ2S+ rights in schools
O'Leary said school staff were alerted of activity on social media.
"A rumour was being spread that the schools were distributing sexually explicit and graphic literature that day, and you needed to keep your kids home to protect them from this," O'Leary told CTV News.
"The rumour is absolutely false. There's not a grain of truth to it. But a number of parents in that community felt pressure to keep their kids home."
O'Leary said in order to correct the 'misinformation' being spread online, the division sent a letter to parents – written in English, Punjab and Hindi.
"Those are the communities where the misinformation was circulating and fears were being ratcheted up," O'Leary said.
The letter says the division is concerned about misinformation that may be causing 'unrest and fear among the public.' It shares a link to the provincial curriculum, which the division assures is the curriculum being taught in schools.
A similar issue was seen in the Winnipeg School Division.
"We did experience some higher than normal absences in some of our schools which we know were related to misinformation being shared with families in some pockets of the city," Radean Carter, the communications team lead for the division, told CTV News in an email.
Pembina Trails School Division said it did not see an uptick in absences Wednesday.
The River East Transcona School Division was unable to provide comment.
CTV News has reached out to Winnipeg's remaining school divisions, and is awaiting comment.
O'Leary said his division will continue to reach out to parents in the community.
"We're going to continue to do everything we can to correct the misunderstanding and to allay the fears," O'Leary said. "And let people know that what schools are about is teaching kids empathy and understanding, and building hopefully a kinder, gentler, more understanding world for their kids to grow up."
He said parents with questions can contact the division.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PM pans Poilievre for 'pulling stunts' by threatening to delay MPs' holidays with House tactics
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is threatening to delay MPs' holidays by throwing up thousands of procedural motions seeking to block Liberal legislation until Prime Minister Justin Trudeau backs off his carbon tax. It's a move Government House Leader Karina Gould was quick to condemn, warning the Official Opposition leader's 'temper tantrum' tactics will impact Canadians.
Las Vegas shooting suspect was a professor who recently applied for a job at UNLV, AP source says
The man suspected of fatally shooting three people and wounding another at a Las Vegas university Wednesday was a professor who unsuccessfully sought a job at the school, a law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press.
Sask. Second World War veteran honoured with France's highest order of distinction
Jim Spenst, 97, is the most recent Canadian to officially receive France's highest order of distinction: the insignia of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.
'I'm so broken': Grieving family speaks out after B.C. cancer patient awaiting treatment chooses MAID
A devastated family says long waits for cancer treatment led a beloved father and grandfather to choose medically assisted death 13 days ago.
'I'm never going to be satisfied': Ontario 'crypto king' lands in Australia as associate flees to Dubai
Ontario’s self-described ‘crypto king’ just landed in Australia, the latest destination in a months-long travel spree he’s prolifically posted about on social media, despite ongoing bankruptcy proceedings tied to the more than $40 million scheme he allegedly operated.
One of the dwarf planets in our solar system is 'squishy' like 'soft cheese,' researchers say
A new study investigating the properties of one of the dwarf planets in our solar system has found that it might have a 'squishy' composition, closer to a 'soft cheese' than a hard ball of rock.
opinion
opinion Don Martin: Greg Fergus risks becoming the shortest serving Speaker in our history
House Speaker Greg Fergus could face a parliamentary committee inquisition where his fate might hang on a few supportive NDP votes. But political columnist Don Martin says this NDP support might be shaky, given how one possible replacement is herself a New Democrat.
333 Afghan nationals arrive in Winnipeg, will live in various Canadian communities
Hundreds of Afghan nationals were brought to Canada on a charter flight and will go on to live in several Canadian communities, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller said Wednesday.
No fourth-ballot winner as Assembly of First Nations seeks its next national chief
The Assembly of First Nations is headed into a fifth round of voting to choose a new national chief. Cindy Woodhouse, the current regional chief for Manitoba, continues to lead her closest challenger: David Pratt, vice-chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.
Regina
-
Sask. mother who lost daughter calls on government to investigate tragic death
A Saskatchewan mother who lost her daughter in 2022 joined MLAs in the legislature on Wednesday calling for the government to follow through on their promise of an investigation.
-
Sask. Second World War veteran honoured with France's highest order of distinction
Jim Spenst, 97, is the most recent Canadian to officially receive France's highest order of distinction: the insignia of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.
-
AIMS system may cost $240M, report on troubled development needed: auditor's report
The troubled production of a new IT system for Saskatchewan hospitals is now projected to cost around three times its original budget at $240 million, according to the provincial auditor.
Saskatoon
-
'You want him, not me': Final messages between Sask. Mountie and his wife read in murder trial
On Wednesday, an expert witness walked the court through messages suggesting a love triangle between a former Saskatchewan Mountie, his wife, and the man he’s accused of killing.
-
'Don’t give up': Blind Sask. hockey fan eyes future calling games
A 10-year old boy from Martensville is a big hockey fan despite a severe congenital vision impairment.
-
Saskatoon planning new cycling corridors on low-traffic roads
Speed limits on some Saskatoon roads could be reduced to accommodate cycling infrastructure.
Northern Ontario
-
Information of hundreds of drivers trafficked in auto-theft ring involving ServiceOntario employees: police
Toronto police say the information of hundreds of drivers in the province was trafficked to suspects allegedly running an auto-theft ring involving employees at ServiceOntario.
-
Science North struggling with $10M in cost overruns, poor planning, auditor says
Poor planning and project management led to a $10 million increase in Science North’s Go Deeper project, Ontario’s acting auditor general says.
-
Ontario woman says she's shocked and angry after losing $80,000 in roofing scam
An Ontario woman said she was shocked and angry after handing over $80,000 to a roofing company that claimed she had problems with her roof that didn't exist.
Edmonton
-
Safety concerns aired in wake of Kingsway Mall shooting, lockdown
Shoppers outside the latest Edmonton mall to see gun-related violence and a lockdown say they're worried about public safety following recent incidents at local shopping destinations.
-
More than 500 violent crimes reported inside Edmonton transit centres this year: police data
There have been more than 500 reported cases of violence at transit centres and LRT stations in the Alberta capital so far this year, police data shows, and it may be about a year before more police are dispatched to help.
-
Alberta government rejects amendments to Canada Pension Plan exit legislation
Premier Danielle Smith's government has rejected a proposal that would have compelled it to respect the results of a referendum on whether Alberta should quit the Canada Pension Plan.
Toronto
-
Information of hundreds of drivers trafficked in auto-theft ring involving ServiceOntario employees: police
Toronto police say the information of hundreds of drivers in the province was trafficked to suspects allegedly running an auto-theft ring involving employees at ServiceOntario.
-
Off-duty cop stabbed trying to prevent theft at Scarborough Best Buy, police say; video of suspects released
Toronto police have released video of four suspects wanted in connection with the stabbing of an off-duty officer who tried to stop them during a theft at an electronics store in Scarborough Wednesday morning.
-
42-year-old man dies after single-vehicle crash on Highway 427
A 42-year-old man has died following a single-vehicle crash on Highway 427 in Vaughan.
Calgary
-
Toddler in 'potentially life-threatening' condition following N.E. Calgary crash
A toddler was seriously injured during a collision in northeast Calgary on Wednesday afternoon. Two pedestrians, the child and an adult, were taken to hospital following the crash at the intersection of Whitehorn Drive and 36 Street N.E. Police believe a bus and the car collided and subsequently hit the child and adult.
-
City has plan of action as Calgary awaits Wednesday night, Thursday morning snowfall
Call it the calm before the storm.
-
Calgary teens buddy up with police officers at annual ‘Shop with a Cop’ event
Students from nine different Calgary schools went on a shopping spree at Marlborough Mall on Wednesday as part of the Calgary Police Service's 17th annual Shop with a Cop event.
Montreal
-
BREAKINGBREAKING Public sector negotiations: Common Front rejects Quebec's latest offer
Quebec's Common Front of public sector unions has rejected the government's latest offer. The strike planned for Dec. 8 to 14 will go on as planned.
-
Bar in Montreal's Village evacuated after threats made during 911 call
A bar in Montreal's Village needed to be evacuated after someone made threats during a 911 call.
-
Father of slain Granby girl granted conditional day release to halfway house
The father of the Granby girl who died tragically in April 2019 has been granted conditional day parole and will be transferred to a halfway house as soon as a place becomes available.
Ottawa
-
Two arrested as Ottawa police seize 40 kg of cocaine, 4 kg of crack in major drug bust
Ottawa police say two people have been arrested after a seizure of more than 40 kilograms of cocaine and four kilograms of crack cocaine in the nation's capital.
-
Ottawa records longest consecutive snowfall on record
It hasn't stopped snowing in Ottawa for over two days, setting a new record
-
No love for agave: LCBO finds Ottawa only Ontario region not jumping on tequila trend
A new report by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has found Ottawa is the only region in the province where tequila has not cracked the top spot for alcohol sales growth this year.
Atlantic
-
Public Safety Minister terminates state of emergency order in St. Stephen
Minister Kris Austin says the concerns expressed by St. Stephen, N.B., are serious, but do not garner the local state of emergency act.
-
Prince Edward Island predicts a $98.6 million deficit in 2023-2024
The Prince Edward Island government released a fiscal and economic update Wednesday, projecting a larger deficit than expected in the 2023 operating budget.
-
Myles Goodwyn's family issues statement following his death
The family of late April Wine lead singer Myles Goodwyn has issued a statement following his death over the weekend.
Kitchener
-
Renowned scholar, with ties to Waterloo, Ont. university, reportedly killed with his family in Gaza
Sofyan Taya, a former guest scholar at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike near Gaza City. His friend and former colleague called him a brilliant and gentle soul.
-
Kitten stolen from Waterloo, Ont. pet store has been found
The 12-week-old kitten, who was stolen from a Waterloo, Ont. pet store, is now in the care of a local cat rescue.
-
Painting by Homer Watson sells over asking at auction
A painting by one of Waterloo Region’s most renowned painters went up on the auction block Wednesday and sold over asking.
Vancouver
-
Surrey Police Service chief on transition delays, body-worn cameras, 'cordial' relationship with mayor
If all goes according to plan, by 2026, the only police officers on the streets of B.C.’s fastest-growing city will be members of the Surrey Police Service.
-
Voters deserve referendum on abolishing Vancouver Park Board, critics say
Critics are slamming Mayor Ken Sim's surprise push to abolish the Vancouver Park Board as haphazard and undemocratic, arguing voters deserve to decide the fate of the elected body in a referendum.
-
Victoria woman with broken, cracked teeth pleads for better dental care for seniors
A Vancouver Island woman is speaking out about the state of dental care and coverage for seniors as she struggles with broken, cracked teeth and oral infections.
Vancouver Island
-
Victoria woman with broken, cracked teeth pleads for better dental care for seniors
A Vancouver Island woman is speaking out about the state of dental care and coverage for seniors as she struggles with broken, cracked teeth and oral infections.
-
Vancouver Island highway section to close for removal of rockslide debris
A section of a major highway on Vancouver Island will be closed for four hours Thursday as workers clear rockslide debris that fell from the hillside amid heavy rains this week.
-
Woman, 46, dead after minivan crashes into Saanich home
A 46-year-old woman is dead following a single-vehicle crash at a home in Saanich on Wednesday.
