September 3, 2025
RED FM News Desk
Alberta’s Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides has publicly identified schools where “sexually explicit” graphic novels were reportedly found.
In a social media post, he shared a list of 30 public schools in Edmonton and 28 in Calgary, all part of Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB) and the Calgary Board of Education (CBE).
Nicolaides initially withheld the list, stating he didn’t believe singling out schools was necessary, but later said he felt Albertans deserved transparency.
One school named was Victoria School of the Arts in Edmonton, where the graphic memoir Fun Home by Alison Bechdel was reportedly discovered by concerned parents.
The book explores themes such as sexual identity, gender roles, and suicide, and includes illustrations of nudity. Some students at the school expressed shock that the book was accessible in a pre-K to Grade 12 environment.
Grade 11 student AJ Mosonyi said it was inappropriate for such content to be available to all age groups. However, other students disagreed with the government’s approach.
Grade 12 student Jules Wallbridge argued that existing age ratings should guide book availability, not government intervention. Fellow student Avery Cochrane added that the ban harms education more than it protects students.
This controversy follows Alberta’s broader policy to ban books with explicit sexual content from schools, set to take effect October 1. While the policy aims to ensure age-appropriate material in classrooms and libraries, it has sparked significant debate over censorship and academic freedom.
Loading ...
