Saskatoon Catholic school administrators accused of bigotry over email circulated online

The Greater Saskatoon Catholic School (GSCS) division is facing accusations of bigotry after a screenshot of an email purported to be from the superintendent circulated widely online Thursday.
The image shows an email that appears to be addressed to the division’s elementary school principals asking them to advise teachers planning to attend the Nutrien Children’s Festival not to visit the event’s Rainbow Tent.
The festival's website describes the Rainbow Tent as an all-ages site featuring events “from Drag Queen Storytime to inclusive dress-up performances filled with colour and fun.”
It appears the Catholic school administrators took issue with the description.
“Based on the description on the festival website, engagement and participation by our students in that particular onsite offering would not be supported,” says the email, which appears to be signed by Tom Hickey, the division’s superintendent.
“Please be assured that GSCS schools are still welcome to attend the Children’s Festival. However, we ask that you speak personally with the teacher(s) who may be taking students, and inform them that the Rainbow Tent should not be part of their visit.”
In a statement to CTV News, the GSCS did not deny the existence of the email, but a spokesperson said the division would respond on Friday.
The image circulated on social media, drawing criticism from many LGBTQ2S+ allies and advocates.
“The Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools superintendent of education is currently trying to fuel divide by bullying teachers, students, and chaperones from attending a 'rainbow tent' at the children’s festival in Saskatoon,” former OutSaskatoon director Jack Saddleback tweeted.
Others reached out to CTV News directly.
“I was deeply disturbed by this email that’s been circulating today from the superintendent of the Catholic school system,” one person told CTV News in an email.
“[Hickey] was my homeroom teacher in high school and I loved him. I am part of the LGBTQ2S+ community and as a same-sex parent I feel gutted that this email has been sent out regarding the tent at the Children’s Festival.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Health care in Canada could be more like Norway's, with some improvements: study
Canada is trailing behind other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries when it comes to both the number of physicians relative to the population, and its spending on primary care, according to a new analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Schools closed, more than 100,000 without electricity as snow falls in Quebec
More than 106,000 homes in Quebec are without electricity after Environment Canada reported nearly 25 cm of snow had fallen across the province.
Escaped kangaroo found safe after 3 days on the loose in Ontario
A kangaroo that escaped the Oshawa Zoo during a one-night stay last week has been recaptured after more than three days on the loose, with one police officer sustaining minor injuries during the effort to apprehend the marsupial.
LIVE Lawyer of Bernardo victims' families appears before House committee today
Tim Danson, the lawyer and legal counsel for the families of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy, who were killed by Paul Bernardo, appears via videoconference before the House of Commons public safety committee today.
Dam threatens to burst in the Laurentians, residents evacuated from homes
People living in Chute-Saint-Philippe and Lac-des-Ecorces in the Laurentians are being asked to evacuate their homes due to potential infrastructure issues at the Kiamika dam and Morier dike.
Unity Acquisitions snaps up much of toy store Mastermind, 18 stores to close
Mastermind GP Inc. says it has reached a deal to sell the bulk of its business to Unity Acquisitions Inc.
Israel orders evacuations as it widens offensive but Palestinians are running out of places to go
Israel's military renewed calls Monday for mass evacuations from the southern town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent weeks, as it widened its ground offensive and bombarded targets across the Gaza Strip.
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow jumps bail and moves to Canada
One of Hong Kong's best-known pro-democracy activists who moved to Canada to pursue her studies said she would not return to the city to meet her bail conditions, becoming the latest politician to flee Hong Kong under Beijing's crackdown on dissidents.
'Potent and impactful storm' on the way to B.C.'s South Coast, Vancouver Island
Heavy rainfall is in store for much of southern B.C. starting Monday, when a 'potent and impactful storm' is forecast to make landfall, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.