The Thames Valley District school board is planning a series of measures to raise awareness about Islamophobia in the days leading up to the first anniversary of an alleged anti-Muslim attack that killed four members of a London family.
The Thames Valley District school board is planning a series of measures to raise awareness about Islamophobia in the days leading up to the first anniversary of an alleged anti-Muslim attack that killed four members of a London family.
On June 6, 2021, five members of the Afzaal family were run down in a London intersection, an attack police allege was motivated by anti-Muslim hate.
Talat Afzaal, 74, his son Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, and the couple’s 15-year-old daughter Yumnah, a Thames Valley student, were killed while out for a walk in Hyde Park. The family’s nine-year-old son, Fayez, survived, but was seriously injured.
“I think, unfortunately, the attack . . . last year really brought the issue of Islamophobia to the forefront, I would say for everybody in our community,” said Matthew Sereda, Thames Valley’s learning co-ordinator of equity and inclusive education. “Equity and inclusion has been an important topic for our board for quite some time.
“The June 6 attack made the conversation that much more urgent.”
Sereda said the board has worked with several “valued community partners” to provide a series of events.
A public session with the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) on May 19 is open to families and community members, as well as staff members, and will examine “strategies to deal with and address Islamophobia.”
Posters being circulated on social media have QR codes to scan to register for the session from 4 pm to 6 pm
The virtual session is meant to provide families “with an understanding of efforts against Islamophobia, advocacy and (provide) practical strategies to confront Islamophobia at home and in the community.”
As well, Sereda said, the board is working with the Muslim Resource Center for Social Support and Integration and the City of London to provide Thames Valley staff with a June 6 commemoration resource guide.
The guide will outline initiatives and events designed to mark the June 6 attack, as well as information related to trauma and violence-informed approaches for students.
The guide also details a series of events put together by friends of Thames Valley student Yumnah Afzaal.
The students have been working on the initiative with adult leads from the London Muslim Mosque and Islamic School to put together a series of events to commemorate the Afzaal family.
On Thursday, a virtual classroom presentation will be held for students in grades 7 to 12 entitled Reclaiming our Narrative.
The event, held in partnership with the National Council of Canadian Muslims, is an interactive storytelling workshop to examine narratives about Muslims and engage and tell stories from antiracist and Islamophobia lenses.
“We’re excited for classrooms to participate in that session this week,” Sereda said, adding a town hall style meeting took place at Eagle Heights elementary school Monday, centered on “healing in Islamophobia work.”
Also on May 17, a seminar for staff after school hours, facilitated by the National Council of Canadian Muslims, covers how to address healing in Islamophobia work.