Students and Staff Join Community and School Pride Month Celebrations

Related Photos

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

Throughout the month of June, schools, students, and staff have been celebrating Pride Month with various school activities and initiatives, community events, and important conversations about diversity and inclusion.

“As a district, we are committed to creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environments where all students and staff can thrive,” shared Michelle Mattes, Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education. “With a focus on our core values of equity and well-being, we want every learner to feel that they belong and know we support them for exactly who they are.”

Earlier this month, the Kamloops-Thompson School District participated in various activities during Kamloops Pride Week (June 9–15, 2025) to show support for all learners and emphasize the District's commitment to creating inclusive, welcoming, and caring learning environments. On Wednesday June 11, 2025, District staff attended the City of Kamloops Pride Open House at Riverside Park to share resources and pride-themed giveaways. Many students stopped by the SD73 table to grab a prize and talk with staff and other students. On Sunday, June 15, 2025, District leadership, staff, teachers, and students, walked with SD73, the Kamloops Thompson Teachers Association, and CUPE 3500 in the Kamloops Pride Parade. 

“It is not only important to come out and support Pride Week and other Pride events, but a valuable opportunity to come together to build positive relationships and connections with the community, students, staff, parents, and community partners,” shared Cory Carmicheal, District Principal Safe and Caring Schools. “We are better together and have strength when we show kindness and caring, and create safe spaces for everyone.”

On Monday, June 16, 2025, Kamloops School of the Arts (KSA) welcomed two-time Paralympic Gold medal winner Greg Stuart and his brother Dean for a talk about inclusivity, belonging, resilience, and pride. Greg and Dean talked with Grade 6–12 KSA students about diversity, highlighting that some people’s differences are visible and others are not. Greg talked about the importance of celebrating everyone's differences and connecting with each other, sharing, “We are all different and what’s really interesting about that difference is that because we are all different we share that in common—and because we share that in common we’re actually all very much the same.”

Dean also shared an encouraging message about Pride: “Pride is bigger than a flag, Pride, to me, is a daily practice and when you’re proud you can feel all these things—you can be in integrity, take ownership, and trust yourself, and with those three three you can connect to pride and then go deeper and find vulnerability, connection, happiness, courage, and authenticity.”

Two schools in Westsyde have also been working on initiatives to make their school communities more inclusive and welcoming. David Thompson Elementary’s Diversity Team of Grade 7 students recently collaborated with Westsyde Secondary’s (WSS) Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Club on a video that welcomes new Grade 8 students to WSS. The video encourages students to be themselves and support diversity in their schools as a way to make new students feel comfortable and confident as they transition to secondary school. 

David Thompson Elementary also celebrated Pride Month by welcoming Kamloops Pride’s Director of Youth Engagement to talk with students about community events and gather feedback on what students would like to see happen in Kamloops to support gender diversity. Students also made pride posters to display during the parade.

As part of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan core value commitments and priorities, the Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to work to remove barriers and create environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive personally and culturally. Celebrating and learning about Pride Month and 2SLGBTQIA+ history and stories is one important way to honour these commitments and provide safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environments for all students.