Parents calling for increased safety after video shows Gloucester High School student ‘attacked’ by other teens

Parents of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) are calling for increased safety and security of high school students after a video circulating on social media shows an alleged attack on a Gloucester High School student that took place in broad daylight. 

The video shows several students attacking one student near Gloucester High School, off of school property. 

The petition, created by Shayma Issa, and signed by hundreds of community members, are calling on the Ontario Ministry of Education and the OCDSB 
to ensure similar incidents don't happen again. 

The petition also calls for concrete steps to be taken to make sure violence does not occur again, especially towards visible minorities. 

“We, as parents of kids who go to the OCDSB schools, picture ourselves as parents of the victim as well, and as such feel utterly enraged and are completely in shock that this is in fact happening in our safe communities and among school students,” the petition said. 

The OCDSB has since released a statement on Monday, Sept. 12, saying that the school has been in contact with the Ottawa Police Services (OPS), and is cooperating with the investigation. The school board also added that there is no evidence that the perpetrators were students at the east end school. 

“Understandably, this assault has generated a considerable amount of concern within the community,” the statement added. “Our Safe Schools policies were recently updated to ensure that everyone can feel safe at school. This is the responsibility of all members of the OCDSB community.”