School board required land acknowledgements and prohibited discussion
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 started opening meetings with land acknowledgements despite never voting on or discussing the practice.
In the spring of 2025, Dr. Horsman asked that the issue be 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 argued policy violated freedom of conscience and expression
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, violating his freedom of conscience under section 2(a) of the Charter.
The application also argues that prohibiting any discussion of the practice violates his freedom of expression under section 2(b) of the Charter. In addition, it alleges 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.”
Court will decide whether the policy is constitutional
Following cross-examinations, lawyers funded by the Justice Centre filed Dr. Horsman’s evidence and written legal arguments with the Court.
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 has filed its responding materials.
The case is now awaiting a hearing date, at which the Court will decide whether the Board can require mandatory land acknowledgements while prohibiting parents from discussing or questioning the practice.
