Statement: Freedom of Expression and Freedom of The Press in Canadian Schools

In recent history, The Griffins’ Nest has faced many barriers in its endeavours to combat mis/disinformation, provide a platform for free student expression, and hold accountable the decision-makers of our scholastic system. 

It is established law that as students, we enjoy the right to freedom of expression and of the press in Canadian public schools, regardless of our status as minors or our non-commercialized practice of journalism. We are student journalists of a country that constitutionally enshrines these freedoms, recognizing their historical and present relevance to bring about social, political, economic, and scientific advancement and progression. 

We recognize the responsibility of school officials to uphold their legislated and professional obligations to protect the wellbeing of the school community. 

However, we remind all Vancouver School Board staff that any limitation of a Charter right, regardless of statutory roles and requirements in the School Act, School Regulation BC Reg 265/89, or any related documents, requires such limitation to “be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society”. The Constitution is the supreme law of Canada. It is not something akin to a restaurant's "Catch of the Day", in which patrons may decipher whether the sea bass is in fashion. Public officials, including school officials, are bound to respect Charter rights. 

The Griffins’ Nest is a legitimate journalistic institution, governed by standards from the Canadian Association of Journalists and Society of Professional Journalists. Our reporting is well respected among our diverse community readership, and on the national stage with high praise and support. We remain editorially independent from non-students, from the methodology with which we select articles to the weights of the typefaces that comprise our bylines, students are in control. Student control is what protects press freedom. 

Press freedom obstructions do not always come in the form of direct censorship. Freedom of information issues, bureaucratic hurdles, financial limitations, privacy violations, and removal of student control substantially impedes our ability to report the news pursuant to our motto. 

It is in the best interest of everyone who interacts with the education system to support and defend student press. 

We are appreciative of the support of our press freedom partners, particularly the assistance of the Canadian Association of Journalists, British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, and Student Press Law Center, of Washington D.C., in their efforts to protect the rights of those who dare to report the news, all the news, without fear or favour. 

And to our readership, whose support we consciously and gratefully acknowledge in our work: we ask that you speak up for and share your support for The Nest’s rights to freedom of expression, information, of the press, and all other rights pertaining to our reporting.

An “approved” press is not a free press, and The Nest will never relinquish the rights and freedoms the Constitution bestowed upon each and every person in Canada. And one does not require any such law, journalism, governmental degree or any other related post secondary or professional accreditation, to understand that.