Statement from FISA Executive Director - Shawn Chisholm
FISA promotes choice in education in alignment with the United Nations Declaration of Human
Rights on Education and the BC Human Rights Code (see below).
We do not believe that everyone has to agree with our values — teachers and students always
have the choice of moving to another independent school or a very robust public school system
— but we ask that they respect diversity.
This diversity does not cost the taxpayer, instead it does the reverse, because our parents pay
tuition. Independent schools save taxpayers nearly $430 million a year in operating costs and
many millions more in capital costs.

United Nations Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary
and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and
professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be
equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the
strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote
understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups,
and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their
children.

BC Human Rights Code Section 41:
(1) If a charitable, philanthropic, educational, fraternal, religious or social organization or
corporation that is not operated for profit has as a primary purpose the promotion of the
interests and welfare of an identifiable group or class of persons characterized by a physical
or mental disability or by a common race, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, marital status, political belief, colour, ancestry or place of origin, that
organization or corporation must not be considered to be contravening this Code because it
is granting a preference to members of the identifiable group or class of persons.