International students under curfew due to Victoria violence
Greater Victoria School District bans international students from going downtown Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m. A parent is unhappy about the restriction.
An increase in youth violence and mischief in downtown Victoria has forced the city’s police to set up a task force and work more closely with schools and community groups, and has led to educators imposing a curfew on students from overseas.
The Greater Victoria School District’s Victoria International Education, which provides a Canadian school experience for international students, sent out an email last week to its host families and students banning students travelling into the downtown core, James Bay or Beacon Hill Park after 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The email, sent by homestay manager Shandi Clague, said: “Police continue to have problems downtown with large groups of young people and have identified a number of these youth as international students.”
In the email, Clague said the ban had student safety in mind.
“We do not take this lightly and it is very unfortunate that we have to put these restrictions in place,” Clague wrote.
“Students, if you are acting in a way that causes danger to yourself or others, you will be asked to leave the program.
“I am hopeful that this time away from downtown will give those that need it the time to refocus on their positive overseas experience.”
The email was greeted with outrage by the parent of one international student.
A lawyer based in Turin, Italy, whose son is a student in the region, wrote to the district saying he was stunned.
More: https://www.timescol...iolence-5390217