December 18th, 2023

In the spring of 2022, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) offered a series of eight Listening Forums. They engaged families in conversation on issues impacting some of the most vulnerable students.

About the Listening Forums

The purpose of the Listening Forums was to:

  • Gain insight from the family and caregiver community about experiences they or their children have had within WRDSB Schools
  • Acknowledge the issues and barriers that students and families face
  • Discuss potential solutions and how we can move forward together

We are aware of the harm experienced by some WRDSB students and families specific to the Human Rights Code and the protected grounds and social areas. While we continue to address issues as they arise, we want to continue to be more proactive and solutions-focused.

What We Heard – The Final Report

The Listening Forums Final Report shares what we heard from participants and outlines the actions we’re committed to taking as a result of what we were told.

We are very grateful to the families and caregivers who participated in these sessions. Participants shared openly and honestly about their experiences, and that of their children, in the hopes of supporting positive change.

Themes and Takeaways

What we heard about the experiences of families and caregivers in our Listening Forums allowed us to see 12 themes and takeaways.

Action Items

For each of the 12 themes, current and future actions were identified to demonstrate how the themes and takeaways are being addressed and will continue to be addressed based on feedback from participating families and caregivers.

The WRDSB is committed to implementing the action items outlined in this report. We hope that over time, a demonstration of this commitment will result in more trust and stronger, more positive relationships with the broader community.

Learn more about the Listening Forums – Final Report.