Would a demonstration sparked by a popular Canadian musician and a petition signed by more than 2,000 people prompt officials with the Avon Maitland District School Board to change their minds?
“We have a great deal of respect for Ms. McKennitt, and her service to the country, and her work on behalf of so many people in our area and beyond – but the answer is no,” Ted Doherty, the board’s director of education, told CTV News.
The issue – which drew the attention of folk singer Loreena McKennitt – was the case of Art Boon, a 90-year-old Second World War veteran who lives in Stratford, and his son Rick, a history teacher with the Avon-Maitland board.
Art Boon had been invited to a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.
Rick Boon hoped to accompany him on the trip – as he has for many past events to honour Second World War veterans.
The Dutch government was willing to pay for the trip.
The school board denied Boon’s request for an unpaid leave, saying they had previously granted him leaves for similar situations – and in the most recent case, told him it would be the last time.
“We have to take into account the time of year, the lengths of leaves, those kinds of things,” Doherty said in an interview explaining the board’s process for deciding whether to allow leaves.
Further details could not be provided, Doherty said, due to privacy concerns.
McKennitt and a group of supporters delivered their petition to the school board on Monday.
“We were hoping (that) they would change their minds and do the right thing,” Bill Boon – Art’s nephew – said outside the board office.
Also visiting Perth County to show support for Boon was Tom Soper, who served with Boon in Europe and later taught in the Avon Maitland system.
“Art’s such a wonderful person. He’s done so much for veterans in Stratford – far more than anybody I’ve ever heard of,” he said.
“I just think it’s a disgrace, what they’re doing to Art.”
Saying the board “never meant for this to be a public issue,” Doherty said the decision was made in the best interests of students.
“We had supported Mr. (Art) Boon … repeatedly, and have the highest respect for Mr. Boon and the work he has done,” he said.
“This issue, from our perspective, has never been about Mr. Boon.”
Art Boon still plans to leave Friday for the Netherlands – although he says he’d still rather his son make the journey with him than another caretaker.
He also plans to continue speaking about his experiences in schools, even if he remains unhappy with the board administrators.
“To have somebody just come up and slap you in the face like you’re not important – well, it is important,” he said.
