WARNING: This story contains images that may be disturbing.
Monique LaGrange has been removed from her position as director of the Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association, a statement given by the president, Harry Salm, said on Thursday.
This comes after a social media post — which was later deleted — on LaGrange’s account that showed two images: one of a group of children holding Nazi flags with swastikas, the other: a group of children holding rainbow Pride flags.
Above the images were the words “brainwashing is brainwashing.”
“Our Catholic schools love all students as gifts from God made in His image, irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender expression,” Salm said in the statement.
The Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association added that “removing a representative from our board is not something we take lightly” but LaGrange’s post was “unbecoming of an (Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association) director.”
Global News has reached out to LaGrange for a statement and will update this article if/when we get a response.
Earlier this week, the Alberta Teachers’ Association called for LaGrange, a Red Deer Catholic school trustee, to resign or face sanctions over the post, which ATA president Jason Schilling called hate speech.
In a news release sent Wednesday afternoon, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) said it held a special board meeting on Tuesday to discuss LaGrange’s conduct.
The board said it was writing to the minister of education “as to the dismissal of Trustee (Monique) LaGrange.”
For its part, Alberta Education said the board has the ability to disqualify a trustee.
“This matter is currently in front of the board, who has full authority and autonomy to disqualify a sitting trustee, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said Wednesday in a statement to Global News.
“The board has indicated that they are seeking advice on the code of conduct, and then will proceed accordingly. The board has assured me that they will handle this in a quick and effective manner.”