A growing wave of opposition is building across Toronto after the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s decision to eliminate weekday international language classes sparked petitions, public outrage, and fears that thousands of students could lose access to a cherished educational program that has served communities for more than half a century.
More than 600 people signed a newly launched petition within its first 24 hours, urging Premier Doug Ford to intervene and reverse cuts that supporters say threaten an important part of Toronto’s multicultural educational landscape.
The petition, titled “Keep Your Word Doug,” was launched by TCDSB Trustee Maria Rizzo following the announcement that weekday international language programming would be phased out beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
The move follows directives from the provincially appointed supervisor overseeing the Toronto Catholic District School Board and has been presented as part of broader efforts to address the board’s financial challenges and reduce its operating deficit.
The cuts will affect a program that has existed for more than 50 years and currently serves approximately 19,000 students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 10 across 44 schools throughout Toronto.
Students enrolled in the program study a variety of languages, including Italian, Portuguese, Mandarin, Spanish, and Ukrainian, while also gaining a deeper connection to their cultural heritage and family traditions.
For many families, the program represents much more than language instruction.
Supporters argue it strengthens cultural identity, promotes inclusion, builds self-confidence among students, and helps young people maintain meaningful connections with their communities and extended families.
Rizzo said the decision has been devastating for many parents and students.
“It breaks my heart to see this vital program axed,” she said, noting that removing access to language education will have a profound impact on thousands of families who have relied on the program for generations.
The trustee also pointed to what she describes as previous commitments from the provincial government to preserve the program.
“More than eight years ago, they made a commitment to the board that they would not interfere with us providing the program,” she said, arguing that the government should honour that promise.
The campaign to save the classes is gaining momentum.
Another petition launched earlier this year by the St. John Vianney Parent Council has already attracted more than 2,000 signatures, demonstrating widespread concern among parents, educators, and community groups.
Critics of the decision also point to the human cost behind the cuts.
According to supporters of the program, approximately 77 instructors and staff members will lose their jobs as a result of the changes.
Among them are many experienced educators who have spent decades teaching language programs and now face uncertain futures.
Val Di Gregorio, president of CUPE Local 3155 and an international language instructor, criticized both the decision and the way it was communicated to staff.
She said employees learned about the cuts only minutes before letters were sent to parents, describing the rollout as abrupt and deeply upsetting.
Many affected instructors are in their fifties and approaching retirement age, making the prospect of finding new employment particularly challenging.
“Our entire unit is now unemployed,” Di Gregorio said, expressing concern for longtime educators whose careers have been built around the program.
Under the board’s current plan, language instruction would not disappear entirely but would instead transition to Saturday programming.
Board officials argue the change is necessary to comply with Ontario Ministry of Education requirements that mandate 300 minutes of instructional time during the regular school day.
However, critics contend that moving classes to weekends will significantly reduce accessibility and participation.
Di Gregorio questioned whether combining multiple grades into larger Saturday classes would provide an effective learning environment, arguing that the new model risks undermining educational quality.
Parents and educators also worry that many families will be unable or unwilling to commit additional weekend time, leading to a sharp decline in enrolment and eventual erosion of the program itself.
At the heart of the controversy is a broader debate about multiculturalism, identity, and inclusion within Canada’s largest city.
Toronto is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, and supporters of the language programs argue they play a crucial role in helping students see their cultures reflected within the education system.
Rizzo says preserving these programs is about ensuring every child feels represented and welcomed in their school community.
“I want to make sure that kids, when they walk through our doors, feel that they belong,” she said.
As petitions continue gathering signatures and community pressure intensifies, parents, educators, and advocates are hoping the provincial government will reconsider the decision and protect a program they view as a cornerstone of multicultural education in Toronto.
For thousands of students and families, the coming months could determine whether a beloved educational tradition that has connected generations through language and culture survives or becomes another casualty of budget reductions and administrative restructuring.