Calgary middle school bans food in cafeteria for Ramadan
A Calgary public school is forcing students who are not fasting for Ramadan to stop eating in the cafeteria, designating the shared space a "No Food Space" to accommodate Muslim students.
Author: Melanie Bennet
A Calgary public school is forcing students who are not fasting for Ramadan to stop eating in the cafeteria, designating the shared space a “No Food Space” to accommodate Muslim students.
Fairview School’s controversial new policy effectively bans children from eating lunch in an effort to be more “inclusive.”
Students in Grades 4–6 will not be permitted to eat in the cafeteria for the first half of lunch. Students in Grades 7–9 face an even broader restriction: Their lunchroom will be a “No Food Space for the entire lunch hour.”
Large portions of the school will temporarily become places where children are discouraged or prevented from eating their lunches in an effort to be more “inclusive.”
“Ramadan is a month of reflection, prayer, generosity, and community,” the message states. The school also thanks parents for helping foster “an inclusive and caring school community.”
In a statement to Juno News, the Calgary Board of Education said schools may make “accommodations” during religious observances.
“During special cultural and religious observances, schools are able to make accommodations to support students,” the board said in an email. “This could include accommodations when students are fasting during Ramadan.”
The board said accommodations may vary depending on the number of students fasting and may include “designating distinct spaces as non-food areas.”
According to the CBE, the school referenced in the social media posts already has different grades eating in separate areas and “no changes have been made to these designated lunch areas.”
The board added that during Ramadan, “alternative foodless spaces are available for fasting students so they are not around others who are eating.”
Juno News reached out to Fairview School, but they did not respond.
The policy reorganizes shared school space around a religious practice observed by only some students.
In 2021, the board published a 100-page “CBE Cares” report as part of their drive to advance “equity, anti-racism, and inclusion.” The report identifies school celebrations as a systemic problem, stating that “school celebrations and festivities do not recognize the broad diversity of the student population (Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Black History Month, National Indigenous Peoples Day); and in some cases, school celebrations are disrespectful to students.”
The document also describes the Calgary Board of Education itself as “a white, male, conservative, and Christian organization that has a history of not addressing racism and discrimination in a courageous and direct manner.”
The report treats religion as an identity category alongside race and gender.
The literature review section examines “Identity and intersectionality: Race, gender, religion, LGBTQ2IA+.”
Ramadan and Islamophobia are repeatedly mentioned in the report’s discussions on discrimination and religious inclusion. Islam is presented as a protected identity within the board’s anti-racism framework.
These sections focus on enabling Muslim students to practise their faith through accommodation and institutional support.
Christianity, however, appears in a different context. Instead of being presented as a minority faith requiring accommodation, it is described as part of the institutional culture associated with systemic inequities.
The report says the school board’s foundations include “whiteness,” which is perpetuated by “Europeanness and related Christian beliefs and practices that are evident in everyday dismissals of other cultures.”
While the report treats religion as an identity category within equity policies, it does not describe accommodations for Christian students.
No other religions are mentioned.
Indigenous spiritual traditions are mentioned primarily through consultations with “Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers,” who provided “sage observations and advice” during the consultation process.
In a follow-up email, Juno News asked whether the CBE CARES report influenced how schools design accommodations for Ramadan, the board did not directly address the question.
The board said that they had “a duty to accommodate students practicing their religion in schools,” and pointed to their religious accommodation policy.
They said that accommodations can vary based on factors including “the specific needs of a student, the available resources and facilities of the school, and potential impact on others,” stating that “if CBE can accommodate as requested, we should do so.”
The policy states that “principals and teachers must not enforce a student’s compliance with religious observances or requirements,” noting that “enforcement of religious/conscientious obligations is the responsibility of parents, not teachers.”
The board also said that “Ramadan specific resources are available for staff through our internal website.”
Are Albertans really putting up with this travesty?
This is utterly ridiculous!