Vancouver School Board — Local services in Vancouver

I'm writing this review as a deeply concerned parent, disappointed by the lack of leadership shown by David Thompson Secondary School and the Vancouver School Board, particularly Principal Nick Akrap, Director of Instruction Ranjit Bains, and Associate Superintendent Alison Ogden.

I raised a respectful concern about the lack of meaningful visibility for mental health, especially men’s mental health, during the month of June, which is nationally recognized as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. This issue is not about competing causes. In fact, I made it very clear to both Ranjit and Nick that this is also about young men within the LGBTQ+ community—those who may be doubly impacted by stigma and in urgent need of visible support, resources, and representation. What I received in return was silence, deflection, and, ultimately, complete dismissal.

Let me be clear: I fully support Pride Month and its displays in schools. But when students see vibrant Pride materials displayed for the entire month while mental health receives only a whisper of attention during a single week in May, it sends the wrong message—that some struggles matter more than others. I was asking for balance. For visibility. For a conversation about how we can support all students more equitably. The response? Nothing.

I raised an alarming concern with Principal Akrap: that students had reportedly torn down LGBTQ+ posters. Rather than treat this as a teaching moment or an invitation to bring more awareness into the halls, he chose not to respond at all. When I asked if anything would be done for Men’s Mental Health Month, he simply replied that the Pride display was created by students with teacher support. That, to me, showed a clear bias in what teachers are encouraged to support. I even offered a constructive suggestion: invite students to submit a mental health display for possible inclusion. Again—no reply.

Then came the final blow: a message from Alison Ogden stating, “The VSB will not be responding to you further on this topic.” That kind of response is not leadership. It’s avoidance. It’s cowardly. It sends a message to every parent, every student, and every concerned voice: “We only listen when it’s convenient.”

Mental health is not optional. It is not political. It is real, urgent, and universal. To treat it like a secondary concern is not just disappointing—it is harmful. Students, especially young men (including LGBTQ+ youth), are struggling. And instead of leading with courage, the response from these three professionals has been silence.

This isn’t just about policy. It’s about values. When you choose to disengage from a respectful conversation about mental health, you show students that their pain doesn’t matter unless it fits within a pre-approved narrative.

I am publicly requesting the contact information of Alison Ogden’s supervisor, as this matter deserves to be reviewed by someone willing to listen, to be open to a conversation.

This review isn’t written in anger. It’s written with urgency. The way this issue has been ignored, diminished, and shut down is unacceptable—and I hope it causes serious reflection from the people involved.

Do better. Be better. Our kids are watching and learning on your choice to be silent when it comes to mental health in general.

I have added the floor to ceiling display that they chose to keep up, not out of hate, but for your visual for those reading this. Understand that this is in the front entrance of the school as you enter the doors.

Silence on the matter (when you do not do nothing this month for Men's Mental Health Awareness) shows your true intentions...

I am sending you my complaint and report about being subjected to racism and cowardly passive-aggressive harassment by some of your employees who are from Asia and Europe. I was sitting on a chair in the school small garden at 7:30 am on June 4, 2025, and when they were coming to work at the school, some of them, due to their extreme immaturity and hatred, busied themselves with me and exposed their lack of civilization and maturity and behaved in a cowardly passive-aggressive manner. One of them, due to the severity of her own mental problem and passive aggressive coward behavior, was talking to the tree in the direction I was sitting. Another Asian (her appearance is unclear whether she was female or male) wearing a pink blazer was deliberately walking back and forth in front of me as a form of covert coward harassment, exposing her pathological hatred and immaturity. The last European male sat imitating me like immature children imitating adults. Another Asian woman had a crow fly over her head, stared at me aggressively, and acted out a dramatic act like toddlers, as if the crow had touched her head while the crow flew away never touched her and That's her problem not mine. What happened to her? Even if the crow pecked at her head, that's her business, and it's their problem. It has nothing to do with me. Some of your employees have behavioral and psychological issues, as well as underlying cowardly racism. Their behavior does not reflect mature, respectful, and civilized adults. They represent employees of an institution like a school, which is supposed to reflect civility, politeness, morals, respect and maturity in their interactions. The racism, immaturity, and cowardly, passive-aggressive hatred and harassment that exposed and represented themselves is completely unacceptable, and I strongly reject it. I don't believe any respectable school would accept such behavior, as its employees represent it. I strongly demand that you apologize to me for what happened, and I strongly demand that you hold them accountable and punish...

Contacted the VSB rentals department to inquire about renting some gym space to play basketball. It was one of the most terrible experiences I have ever had. Everyone I talked to in the rentals department sounded like they had no interest in helping out and had the worst attitude. They took long to respond to emails and the main contact Deborah never answers her phone. They are also extremely unorganized and seem like they do not know what they are doing. The Vancouver School Board needs to either train all the staff in the rentals department again or fire them. Deborah and her team have left me stunned with there negativity and lack of support. I am now dealing with the North Van School District and they have accepted us with open arms. They are extremely pleasant and great to deal with. I highly recommend dealing with the North Van district. Don’t do anything with the VSB...