On Saturday morning a Pride Flag was found ripped from the flagpole at Sacred Heart Catholic School in the Ward. By early afternoon Guelphites had brought chalk to the school's parking lot to show their support for those who are celebrating Pride Month.
The Pride flag was removed from a Catholic elementary school in the Ward by an unknown person will be replaced and fly once again, said a spokesperson for the board.
"It appears that a Pride Flag, was either torn or cut down from the flagpole," said Alison Wilson, communications officer with Wellington Catholic District School Board.
A photo of the torn flag on the ground was posted to social media. Guelphite Bonnie Wakefield saw that post and decided to bring some chalk and her daughter Victoria to the site and show support to those celebrating Pride Month.
"It made me think about the kids who go to this school who maybe won't feel welcome anymore," said Wakefield about the moment she saw the photo of the flag on the ground. "They won't feel loved and they won't feel like their community and their church is behind them. I think it's important they know their community is here for them."
The flag had been flying at Sacred Heart Catholic School on Huron Street since the start of June but it was discovered on the ground near the pole on Saturday morning.
This is the first school year in which the board has agreed to raise the rainbow Pride flag at all of its schools during Pride Month. After years of not allowing the Pride flag to fly despite requests to do so, this year the decision by the board to allow it was unanimous.
Rayden Balla also decided to come to the school to show support. Balla went to a Catholic school and said at that time the Pride Flag was not supported.
"They just started to put them up and to see them being taken down is pretty disappointing," said Balla. "Of course there are people against it but this goes a little too far."
Balla, joined by a half dozen others in the early afternoon, said it was important to show people they are supported.
"It's nice seeing the community coming out for this."
GuelphToday has reached out to Guelph Pride for comment but did not receive a response by publish time. The story will be updated if comment is received.
Wilson said the removal was an act of vandalism and has been reported to Guelph police.
"We are very disappointed that someone in our community has acted in this manner," said Wilson.
