Furor erupts over refugee bullying story in Halifax

A story citing allegations of choking and bullying by refugee elementary students against non-refugees in Halifax was taken offline Sunday and on Monday drew an angry message from the Halifax Regional School Board superintendent.

The story which appeared in the weekend edition of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald was quickly picked up by conservative websites, including Ezra Levant’s The Rebel.

But on Sunday the newspaper posted that the story had been removed, saying the article was incomplete and needed more work.

“I was deeply offended to see the school represented so inaccurately,” wrote Elwin LeRoux, superintendent of the Halifax School Board.

“As a society, we all have an ongoing responsibility to understand and work toward eliminating all forms of discrimination. We look to our community partners, including those in the media, to help support our efforts.,” LeRoux wrote.

“How can we do this? We can start by not stereotyping – a school, a group of people or a community.”

LeRoux said he has spoken directly to Sarah Dennis, owner of the Chronicle Herald.

“I told her that the accusations, the language and the tone of the article were both harmful and hurtful to students, staff and the community of Chebucto Heights – and to our entire school system. They’re also not true.”

Dennis could not be reached for comment.

In its note to readers the paper said that its story Saturday has drawn the wrath of many of its readers, particularly online.

"It was based on two parents’ allegations of physical bullying and threatening behaviour by some of the children who recently arrived with refugee families," said the note, which added the school cited in the article had had an influx of new students in recent weeks.

According to the paper, the story quoted two mothers who didn’t want their names used for fear of reprisals against them or their children and said a third person, a grandparent, was interviewed and had similar concerns.

"Our story was incomplete and insufficiently corroborated, given the serious nature of the allegations."

The paper noted that "appallingly, anti-Muslim groups with words like ‘crusade’ and ‘jihad’ in their names started sharing the article.

We pulled it from our website."

The un-bylined, anonymously-sourced article also came in for harsh criticism from the Halifax Typographical Union, which is representing some 60 newsroom reporters, photographers, editors and support staff who have been on strike for 12 weeks.

“Before it was removed, the online version of the story was picked up by ultra-conservative and reactionary websites in Canada and the United States to promote intolerance and bigotry,” the union said in a statement issued Sunday.

The story quoted a mother only identified as “Missy,” who alleged that a refugee boy choked a girl with a chain while yelling, “Muslims rule the world.”

Another mother, also unidentified, was quoted in the story.

A school board official also quoted in the Chronicle-Herald did not substantiate the story.