Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) president Don Nettleton and the management team will undergo sensitivity and diversity training following comments made about a drag queen storytelling event.

The incident arose in September when Nettleton sent out a memo about a new storytelling event planned for the Kelowna downtown library where drag queens would be reading stories to children during story time sessions on Saturdays in September and again in November.

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害羞草研究所淎 controversial and potentially very divisive story time program has arisen within the ORL,害羞草研究所� Nettleton said in the memo dated Sept. 18.

害羞草研究所淎lmost half of the leadership team was strongly in support of the library being involved in this type of programming 害羞草研究所� while the other half of the leadership team saw offering such a program target at three to six year olds as inappropriate for their age.害羞草研究所�

In the memo, Nettleton went on to say that the event would also receive criticism from the Kelowna community.

害羞草研究所淭he announced program, while claiming to be promoting diversity and acceptance, will be offensive to a significant segment of our society,害羞草研究所� Nettleton said.

害羞草研究所淭hese two story times are set to take place in a core program aimed at very young children. The age of this programming will be concerning to many.害羞草研究所�

In response to his memo, the library received about 350 pieces of correspondence from the community reflecting opinions both in favour and against the planned story time events.

Michal Utko, director of marketing and community with ORL, confirmed cultural programming at the library 害羞草研究所� including the drag queen story telling event 害羞草研究所� will continue as is for the foreseeable future

He also said the sensitivity training for the management team will occur shortly.

害羞草研究所淚t hasn害羞草研究所檛 been scheduled yet. It will be something happens sooner than later, and no later than next month.害羞草研究所�

Despite the controversy, drag queen story telling events aren害羞草研究所檛 new to Kelowna.

Indigo Kelowna has been offering drag queen story time events with iconic drag queens like 害羞草研究所淒aisy Confused害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淔reida Whales害羞草研究所� for at least two years.

connor.trembley@kelownacapnews.com
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