Barrie school draws backlash after replacing Canadian flag with Pride flag

Online reactions poured in after Trillium Woods Elementary School replaced its Canadian flag with a Pride flag for Pride Month

Published Jun 17, 2026  •  Last updated 2 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

A Canadian flag flies in front of the Peace Tower and the Centre Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. An elementary school in Barrie took down its Canadian flag earlier this month and temporarily replaced it with a Pride flag in honour of Pride Month. Photo by (PHOTO BY HYUNGCHEOL PARK/Postmedia)

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The reaction on social media was largely united after an elementary school in Barrie removed its Canadian flag and replaced it with a Pride flag in honour of Pride Month.  

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“It’s this type of stuff is why people are ripping down pride flags,” a Reddit user said. “I don’t agree with it but the more authority pushes something the more people are going to push back.”

Trillium Woods Elementary School took down its Canadian flag earlier this month, replacing it with the Pride flag. By June 16, the Pride flag had been taken down and the Canadian flag was back at half-staff. 

“Nope….. ONE flag. No foreign flags, no Pride flags,” another Reddit user said.

The sentiments were similar on X

“Nope. I appreciate and respect our LGBTQ friends and family but we are Canada first,” one X user said. “Raise the rainbow on a 2nd flag pole, as well as any additional groups.”

“Absolutely not! Nor should any other flag,” another X post said. “The Canadian flag I grew up with was inclusive of all Canadians, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other snowflake label you give yourself.

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According to the Simcoe County District School Board’s policy, another flag may be raised.  

“Upon the direction of the Director of Education, or designate, a single flag, other than the National Flag of Canada may be raised for a specific time to recognize an event, occasion or period of significance,” the policy said on the SCDSB website.

The Toronto Sun contacted the school board for comment, but it did not respond to an email request. 

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The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board said taking down the Canadian flag is not its policy.

“The Canadian flag flies on our flag poles,” the board said in a written statement. “Our schools have been provided with Pride and Every Child Matters flags, which are displayed in prominent ways throughout our buildings. Flags are just one of many ways that we demonstrate to our students that our spaces are safe and welcoming.” 

Under Ontario’s Education Act, all schools in the province must display the Canadian and provincial flags inside their buildings. Schools are also permitted to fly the Canadian flag on flagpoles outside. 

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