Abbotsford school trustee Jared White is facing scrutiny after speaking out on Facebook against gender ideology in schools. His comments, which called for protecting girls’ sports and private spaces, have prompted a review by the school district.
White’s post stated: “No more biological males in women’s/girls’ sports. No more biological males in women’s/girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms. No more teaching vulnerable children that they can be both genders or neither. Enough. Common sense is making a comeback, and it’s about time.”
His remarks reflect the concerns of many parents who feel their voices have been ignored in discussions about school policies.
In a statement to True North, White defended his position, emphasizing that he ran for trustee to advocate for parents.
“I ran as a trustee in large part to speak on behalf of concerned parents in my district. The concerns about gender ideology expressed in my Facebook post represent a necessary perspective on an important issue, one a majority of parents in my district want heard,” said White.
“Silencing a trustee speaking on behalf of parents would be nothing less than an attack on the rights of parents to have their voice heard at the local school board table.”
Despite White’s call for common sense policies, the Abbotsford School District has launched a review according to the Abbotsford News. Board chair Shirley Wilson confirmed the district is taking the matter seriously.
“Our district is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and safe environment for all students, staff and families. Our goal is to uphold these values in all aspects of our work, including our governance and leadership,” she said, adding that staff have received emails from concerned parents — though it is unclear whether they oppose or support White’s stance.
This controversy comes amid a broader debate over gender policies in British Columbia.
In 2024, BC Conservative leader John Rustad introduced the Fairness in Women’s and Girls’ Sports Act, which aimed to protect female athletics from male participation. The governing BC NDP shut down the bill, dismissing concerns from parents and athletes alike.
Abbotsford’s handling of dissenting views has also drawn criticism in the past. Veteran educator Jim McMurtry was fired after over 40 years as a teacher for challenging the official narrative on residential schools.
His dismissal began when he corrected misinformation in a classroom discussion, stating that most residential school deaths were due to disease rather than murder. Instead of fostering open discussion, the district swiftly removed him.
