At the Tuesday, September 26, 2023, Regular Board Meeting of the York Catholic District School Board, the Board of Trustees approved the following motion:
MOTION TO APPLY SANCTIONS TO TRUSTEE THERESA MCNICOL FOR
ENGAGING IN DISCRIMINATORY AND HARASSING CONDUCT TOWARDS TRUSTEES ON THE BASIS OF THEIR ITALIAN ANCESTRY AND ETHNIC ORIGIN AND FOR BREACHING POLICY 117 TRUSTEE CODE OF CONDUCT, POLICY 613 EQUITY & INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND POLICY 425 WORKPLACE HARASSMENT
Whereas Trustee McNicol engaged in discriminatory and harassing conduct towards Trustee Iafrate, former Trustees Cantisano, Marchese, Mazzotta and Giuliani, on the basis of their ancestry and ethnic origin;
Whereas Trustee McNicol engaged in the behaviour deliberately and that she was aware that it would annoy and offend her colleagues;
Whereas Trustee McNicol knew or ought to have known that the conduct would be offensive, demeaning and unwelcome by her colleagues;
Whereas Trustee McNicol referred to her colleagues as “Italian Trustees”, with several communications written in the Italian language, commenting that it was the only way her colleagues will understand;
Whereas the conduct constitutes harassment on the basis of their shared ancestry and ethnic origin;
Whereas Trustee McNicol’s conduct constitutes a breach of:
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- Policy 117 Trustee Code of Conduct
- Policy 613 Equity & Inclusive Education
- Policy 425 Workplace Harassment
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LET IT BE RESOLVED
THAT Trustee McNicol be censured;
Effective October 1, 2023 and ending with her term of office on November 14, 2026,
THAT Trustee McNicol be barred from attending all Board meetings and all Committee meetings of the Board during that period;
Effective October 1, 2023 and ending with her term of office on November 14, 2026,
THAT Trustee McNicol be barred from sitting on or attending all Committees of the Board, during that period.
To read the report by JMJ Workplace Investigation Law LLP on this matter, please click here for the Board Agenda from the September 26, 2023, Regular Board Meeting (the report begins at page 131).
Trustee McNicol remains the YCDSB Trustee for East Gwillimbury / Georgina / Newmarket and can continue to be contacted for issues related to the schools in this area.