Introduction
A Sechelt BC mother of four, Lara Yates, has long opposed the ritual of Indigenous land acknowledgements, viewing them as a form of forced political expression. She made numerous efforts to engage with school staff about her concerns, particularly after her daughter failed a course for refusing to produce her own land acknowledgment.
The Incident
Following these unsuccessful and private attempts, Lara decided to express her opposition publicly during a land acknowledgement ritual before her daughter’s high school drama performance on December 4, 2025. Following her brief expression, in which she called out “save us your race-baiting” and similar remarks, Lara remained in her seat and sat quietly for the duration of the performance.
Aftermath
After the show, the drama teacher pointed out to the students backstage which student’s parent was responsible for the “disruption”. As a result, Lara’s daughter was bullied and mocked by the other students, becoming fearful and upset. The principal called in a counsellor that evening to determine whether the daughter should be released to her family and reported the family to Child Protection Services. Social workers subsequently came to the house and interviewed the minor children, closing the file immediately after finding no issues of concern.
The next day, the principal informed Lara that she was banned from attending her children’s school for the next two months, at which point the punishment would be reviewed if certain conditions were met. Due to concerns about bullying and staff behaviour toward her daughter after the incident, Lara pulled both of her minor children out of school and contacted the FSUC, where she is a member, and was provided a lawyer to assist her.
FSUC’s Response and Actions
The FSUC is a mass-membership, not-for-profit organization dedicated to defending free speech in Canada. It is providing funding for Lara’s legal representation by FSUC’s Executive Director, Lisa Bildy, through her law firm, Libertas Law.
Through her counsel, Lara appealed the decision of the principal to the superintendent of Sunshine Coast School District 46 (SD46). The Appeal argued that the decision to ban Lara from the school over her brief expression was an improper punishment of a parent for her political views and was contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; however, the decision of the principal was upheld.
Lara is now taking the case to the BC Supreme Court with the help of the FSUC, where she will also challenge the District’s land acknowledgement ritual as being contrary to its duty as a public institution to be “non-sectarian”.
Donate to Lara’s CaseCase Documents
**Names of minors have been redacted.
Letter to superintendent from lawyer, dated January 13, 2026, requesting appeal;
Letter from principal to lawyer, dated January 23, 2026, regarding conditions for lifting s. 177 exclusion order;
Letter from lawyer to assistant superintendent, dated January 28, 2026, responding to principal’s submissions on appeal;
Decision of assistant superintendent, dated January 30, 2026, denying appeal;
Response by lawyer to denial of appeal to Board, dated February 13, 2026;
Response of Superintendent to lawyer, dated February 17, 2026.
FSUC’s Ongoing Work with Public School Boards
The FSUC has helped other parents in this situation:
- On June 24, 2025, the FSUC sent a letter of concern on behalf of a parent to the Toronto District School Board after he was instructed to remove a post critical of his child’s school principal.
- On June 26, 2025, the FSUC expressed concern to the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board after a parent was censured for opposing land acknowledgements at a school council meeting.
- And, in September 2025, FSUC sent a letter of concern to the Nanaimo Ladysmith Public School Board after a parent was banned from school property due to a gender critical Facebook post. Following FSUC’s intervention, the ban was lifted.
The FSUC will continue to monitor increasing attempts by public schools to punish parents for their speech and will intervene where appropriate.
To support our work and defend Lara’s right to express her opposition to land acknowledgments, please donate today!
Update: Feb 1, 2026 – Watch the New Westminster Times interview
Amy Hamm of The New Westminster Times interviews lawyer Lisa Bildy (Executive Director, Free Speech Union of Canada) and parent Lara Yates.
Video Credit to New Westminster Times, Feb 1, 2026.
