{"id":2500,"date":"2026-03-17T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fsucanada.ca\/?p=2500"},"modified":"2026-06-07T12:00:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T19:00:07","slug":"case-summary-lara-yates-v-chatelech-secondary-school-bc-school-district-46","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fsucanada.ca\/fr\/case-summary-lara-yates-v-chatelech-secondary-school-bc-school-district-46\/","title":{"rendered":"Lara Yates v. Sunshine Coast School District 46"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

L'incident<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Following these unsuccessful and private attempts, Lara decided to express her opposition publicly during a land acknowledgement ritual before her daughter\u2019s high school drama performance on December 4, 2025. Following her brief expression, in which she called out \u201csave us your race-baiting\u201d and similar remarks, Lara remained in her seat and sat quietly for the duration of the performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les cons\u00e9quences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After the show, the drama teacher pointed out to the students backstage which student’s parent was responsible for the \u201cdisruption\u201d. As a result, Lara\u2019s 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next day, the principal informed Lara that she was banned from attending her children\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

R\u00e9ponse et actions de la FSUC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

La FSUC est une organisation \u00e0 but non lucratif \u00e0 adh\u00e9sion massive qui se consacre \u00e0 la d\u00e9fense de la libert\u00e9 d'expression au Canada. Elle finance la repr\u00e9sentation juridique de Lara par Lisa Bildy, directrice ex\u00e9cutive de la FSUC, par l'interm\u00e9diaire de son cabinet d'avocats, Libertas Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 Charte des droits et libert\u00e9s<\/em>; however, the decision of the principal was upheld. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lara is now taking the case to the BC Supreme Court with the help of the FSUC, where she will also challenge the District\u2019s land acknowledgement ritual as being contrary to its duty as a public institution to be \u201cnon-sectarian\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

Faire un don<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

Case Documents<\/h2>\n\n\n

**Names of minors have been redacted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letter to superintendent from lawyer, dated January 13, 2026<\/a>, requesting appeal;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letter from principal to lawyer, dated January 23, 2026<\/a>, regarding conditions for lifting s. 177 exclusion order;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letter from lawyer to assistant superintendent<\/a>, dated January 28, 2026, responding to principal’s submissions on appeal;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decision of assistant superintendent<\/a>, dated January 30, 2026, denying appeal;

Response by lawyer to denial of appeal to Board<\/a>, dated February 13, 2026;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Response of Superintendent to lawyer<\/a>, dated February 17, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Le travail continu de la FSUC avec les conseils scolaires publics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

La FSUC a aid\u00e9 d'autres parents dans cette situation :<\/p>\n\n\n\n