School council meetings began with mandatory land acknowledgements
Dr. Geoffrey Horsman is a biochemistry professor, school council member, and father of three children in the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB).
His concerns began when the Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School Council opened its meetings with land acknowledgements, even though the council had never voted on or discussed the practice.
In the spring of 2025, Dr. Horsman asked to have the issue placed on the agenda for discussion. The School Council Chair declined and directed him to the school principal.
On May 9, 2025, the principal informed Dr. Horsman that the Board required land acknowledgements at all school council meetings and that the practice could not be debated. Later correspondence from the Board’s System Administrator of Equity and Inclusive Education confirmed that land acknowledgements were mandatory and that school councils were not permitted to question or discuss them.
In an October 29, 2025 email, the Board stated that “territorial acknowledgements will continue to be part of School Council and WRDSB gatherings,” adding that questioning equity-focused initiatives “risks undermining the dignity of members of our community.”
Parent challenged compelled speech and prohibition on debate
With assistance from lawyers funded by the Justice Centre, Dr. Horsman applied for judicial review of the Board’s policy.
His application argues that requiring land acknowledgements compels him to participate in an ideological statement that conflicts with his belief in the inherent dignity and equality of all people. He argues that this violates his freedom of conscience under section 2(a) of the Charter.
The application also argues that prohibiting discussion of the practice violates his freedom of expression under section 2(b) of the Charter. Dr. Horsman further argues that the Board lacks authority under the Education Act and Ontario Regulation 612/00 to dictate how independently elected school councils conduct their meetings.
Constitutional lawyer Hatim Kheir stated, “School councils exist to give a voice to parents. It is unconstitutional for the Board to mandate ideological recitations and prohibit any debate to the contrary.”
Dr. Horsman expressed concern that “The Board is imposing its ideological statements on students and the community, who are essentially a captive audience.” He added, “The most egregious part is that parents are forbidden from even discussing the appropriateness of such statements at School Councils—one of the few official communication channels available for parent input.”
Legal arguments compared land acknowledgements to opening prayers
Following cross-examinations, lawyers funded by the Justice Centre filed Dr. Horsman’s evidence and written legal arguments with the Court.
His legal challenge asks the Court to find that compelling participants to hear or participate in mandatory land acknowledgements violates freedom of conscience and that preventing school councils from debating the practice violates freedom of expression.
Constitutional lawyer Hatim Kheir said, “We’re asking the Court to find that mandatory land acknowledgements are analogous to opening prayers which have been found to violate the right to freedom of conscience and religion.”
The Waterloo Region District School Board filed its responding materials.
The case is awaiting a hearing date. The Court will be asked to determine whether the Board can require land acknowledgements at school council meetings while preventing parents from discussing or questioning the practice.
