October 8 and 9: Jeremy Dias focuses on equity and inclusion

Rainbow District School Board will host Jeremy Dias on October 8 and 9, 2013 as it continues to focus on equity and inclusive education. Jeremy Dias will visit a number of schools to speak about his experience of racism and homophobia growing up in Northern Ontario and what he is now doing to support students in the school system to create safer spaces.

“This presentation will foster the ongoing creation of positive school cultures where diversity is valued and respected,” says Superintendent Lesleigh Dye. “We want students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, two-spirited and questioning to feel safe, secure, welcomed and important in our schools.” 

This is Jeremy Dias’ fourth visit to Rainbow Schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin. His presentations will serve as a prelude to the Dare to Stand Out Conference, being presented in partnership with Jer’s Vision, on Thursday, October 10, 2013 from 9 am to 10 pm at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School. 

Jeremy Dias was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and grew up there until moving to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where he attended high school. As a youth, he was motivated by social and political inequality to take action, volunteering with numerous organizations and charities. In high school, he started and led a number of clubs including Stop Racism and Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving. He also founded and coordinated the Sault Ste. Marie first regional LGBTQ youth group.

After coming out in high school, Jeremy faced extreme cases of discrimination by school officials. At 17, he began a legal case against his school and school board, and at 21, won Canada’s second largest human rights settlement. Jeremy used the money to found Jer’s Vision: Canada’s Youth Diversity Initiative and the Jeremy Dias Scholarship.

Jeremy has been featured on Canada AM, Much Music, CTV News, Global News and CBC News; and has been a keynote speaker at countless conferences and events.

He is completing a degree in Psychology and Political Science at the University of Ottawa, continues to volunteer for a number of organizations, and is a columnist for 2B Magazine in Montreal. Jeremy Dias currently serves as Jer’s Vision’s Executive Director.

For more information, click here.

All of the Rainbow District School Board’s secondary schools have Gay Straight Alliances. They are designed to support students who identify as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited or questioning, and students who may have friends, parents or other family members from these communities.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.