Community Divided After Mother’s Revelation of “Kill List”

An Ontario mother whose nine-year-old son’s name was found on a “kill list” created by a classmate says she has faced significant backlash from the community after sharing her story.

Now Toronto covered her story earlier this week.

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The mother claims the backlash has “highlighted” racism in her community.

“This is a community that I’m attached to,” Nicola Reid-Collins tells Now Toronto.

“I’ve had people make comments like, ‘Well, then maybe Black people shouldn’t move to these White-dominated areas.’”

In her original social media post, Reid-Collins criticized the school’s response-suspending the student who made the list for 10 days. At that time, Reid-Collins suggested that the outcomes might have been different if roles had been reversed based on ethnicity.

According to Reid-Collins, Father F. X. O’Reilly Catholic School confirmed that her son and the other two students listed were not bullying the child who wrote it.

She mentions that Town of New Tecumseth Mayor Richard Norcross and Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson have reached out since then.

“[Norcross] assured me that he is advocating for my son; he’s pushing for more attention on this situation and putting pressure on the school and the Ministry of Education,” Reid-Collins states.

The MPP’s office confirmed to Now Toronto that they have escalated the incident to Ontario’s Ministry of Education.

Now Toronto contacted Education Minister Paul Calandra’s office but hadn’t received a response by publication time.

In the meantime, Reid-Collins reports that no one from either the school or school board has reached out with an update.

“I have not spoken to the principal. I have not spoken to the vice principal. I have not spoken to anybody part of their admin team.”

When asked about this incident, Lonnie Bolton, superintendent of Student Engagement and Learning at Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB), informed Now Toronto on Tuesday that staff were aware of what happened.

Bolton added that SMCDSB couldn’t share details about it due to “privacy legislation,” but noted they used their usual protocol: initiating their Threat Assessment and Intervention Protocol.

Reid-Collins says she’s also received “so much love and support”

“I’ve gotten a lot of messages from parents concerned about their own children and their own situations,” Reid-Collins shares.

She expresses happiness in being a voice for many other kids and families who feel overlooked or unheard.

“I’m so happy that they can see representation is out there and that someone genuinely cares about what’s happening to them, wanting change within our system.”

However, despite online words of encouragement, Reid-Collins still feels unsafe in her neighborhood.

“I don’t think this is a safe area anymore for me and my kids, which affects me deeply because I genuinely do love my home,” she explains.

Reid-Collins plans meeting with SMCDSB board next week

Reid-Collins is set to meet with SMCDSB next Tuesday, Mar. 24.

She will be joined by members from Parents of Black Children and Parents Against Racism Simcoe County. She hopes this meeting gives her an opportunity to advocate why expelling the child who created the “kill list” should be considered essential.

“This child has no place in this school environment if he’s going to be affecting other students and causing harm to them mentally,” she adds.

Reid-Collins started a petition on Change. org asking both the school and school board for full transparency along with clear communication while ensuring safety for all students involved.

Additionally, she urges parents everywhere to take action in protecting their children from experiencing what she’s facing now.

“I know we want to shelter our kids from harsh realities and keep things light-hearted; however, that’s just not realistic-it isn’t how our world operates,” she notes.

Saying it’s crucial for parents to educate their children about cultural differences alongside diversity issues as well as bullying accountability matters greatly too.

“We need our kids understanding their words matter. If you say something harmful, there will definitely be consequences.”

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