Kelowna high school students launch coordinated protests against sex assault

More protests at schools

Additional protests took place at Kelowna high schools on Thursday in support of a previous rally at Mount Boucherie Secondary School earlier this week.

Over the noon hour students at Kelowna Secondary School and Rutland Secondary School marched around the schools carrying signs and chanting, "what do we want? Safe schools. When do we want it? Now."

On Monday, a number of Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School students protested after allegations surfaced surrounding a student and multiple alleged sexual assaults.

A female student at MBSS alleges a teenage boy who attends the school groped her while at the male's home back in November.

Today's events were coordinated to start at noon. The mother of one of the RSS students involved in the protest, Shelley Hughes tells Castanet, "the girls are protesting that they want to able to stay safe when they come to school. Free from sexual assault and free from sexual harassment."

Central Okanagan School District superintendent Kevin Kaardal told Castanet after Monday's protest that safety is the top priority.

"There are minors involved. The accused is a minor. The person who is making the accusation is a minor. We just need to protect the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved and let this issue go through the system in the appropriate way."

In an email statement on Thursday, Kaardal reiterated that the school district supports students bringing awareness to creating a culture of consent.

"When a school is made aware of an allegation in every case we follow our district protocol that was jointly developed with the Elizabeth Fry Society and the RCMP. In every case we take action and report the allegation to the RCMP."

Kaardal says the school district focuses on ensuring a safe school environment for all students, and provides services including counselling and connections to outside agencies, "we will not comment on specific actions or specific claims for the privacy and protection of all involved."