A trustee with the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) is refusing to comply with an order to apologize after posting a meme on Instagram that equated LGBTQ2S+ education to Nazi brainwashing.

Trustee Monique LaGrange posted two pictures next to each other, one of children in a classroom all waving Pride progress flags, the other children in a train waving swastikas. “Brainwashing is brainwashing,” the caption read.

LaGrange was subsequently found to have violated the RDCRS Trustee Code of Conduct – and ordered to comply with several orders, including offer a formal apology and attend sensitivity training.  

But LaGrange hasn’t complied with any of the conditions. 

“She didn’t do anything wrong,” said her lawyer, James Kitchen. “If she apologized, it would be dishonest.” 

Kitchen added, “And she has too much integrity to do that.”

The Alberta Teachers’ Association and certain LGBTQ2S+ community members have also called for LaGrange to be terminated from her position as trustee.

LaGrange continues in her role on the RDCRS board. However, she is restricted from attending committee meetings, or representing the board officially until she completes the sensitivity training. Kitchen said LaGrange is “undecided” if she’ll attend the training.

Judicial Review

Kitchen further said that a judicial review will be sought, arguing that the board’s decision was unlawful and unreasonable.

RDCRS hasn’t released its rationale for determining LaGrange violated the code of conduct. Once provided, Kitchen said he intends to use their rationale as the basis for the judicial review.

“They’re setting her up for failure,” Kitchen said. “They’re imposing a condition on her that they already know – or ought to know – that she cannot meet.”