Winnipeg School Division endorses global climate strike, dismisses claims it wasn't supportive of protest

Winnipeg's largest school division is publicly endorsing a major climate change demonstration on the steps of the Manitoba Legislature.

The announcementcomes after students aired their concerns, includinga letter to the Winnipeg School Division that calledon the division to support the global strikeon Friday.

In an interview, WSD spokesperson Radean Carter said there's been a misunderstanding ofthe division's position.

"We've never really, at any point, said that we don't support this or we don't want students to be involved in this," Carter said, explaining that environmental issues are a significant part ofschool curriculums.

'We hope' students can go: WSD

Thousands of Winnipeg teenagers are expected to walk out of classFriday afternoon as part oftheglobal climate strike.

The international event is inspired by Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager whobecame a renowned speaker after starting her own one-person climate protest with a school strike in 2018.

"It's definitely a big event. It'sglobally significant and we hope that our students and their parents can go," Carter said.

"But we, of course, as an educatorcan't arrange to have supervision that would be required for our students to attend, because we do also have students who don't want to attend and who should still have the right to have class."

The division's news release calls the climate strike an "excellent platform for discussion and learning" for children and adults.

The statement adds that students can attend the protest, but their parents must inform their child's school oftheir participation.

"WSD board of trustees and administration hope many of our parents and students are able to take part in this life-changing and globally significant event," the news release says.

Carter said missed classeswill count as an absence on student records, but it shouldn't be perceived as a punishment.

"We need to have the excused absence on file so that we know that the students are safe," she said.

Grant Park High School student Cole Osiowyhad arguedthe division wasn't doing enough to support the protest.

"I think they could do more," the Grade 11 student told CBC News earlier this week."In their letter, they said they support youth activism. But this doesn't really look like supporting youth activism."

The students' letter references other divisions that they feelhave stepped up, such as thelargest school board in Quebec, which cancelledclasses on Friday.

Carter said the Winnipeg School Division hasn't been outwardly public of its support for the climate strike, since they weren't organizing it and the protest was student-led.

"We were sort of taking a backseat and letting it happen," she said.

"This is about students having a voice and doing their thing, and it's not about Winnipeg School Division doing something that we're taking the kids to."

The Winnipeg Police Service warns of delays near the Manitoba Legislature because of the protest,along Broadway Avenue and neighbouring cross streets.

Transit buses will be rerouted around the area, police said, and riders are encouragedto check the Winnipeg Transit schedule before travelling.