<p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/9f17707e-8d6f-4b30-b65e-686b05cff19e?fingerprint=ppb20260625162801" alt="pride tshirts" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The winning designs from this year's Black Gold Pride T-shirt Contest have been announced!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the fourth year the division has hosted the contest, with all staff members across the division getting the chance to vote for their favourite designs.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“The goal is to create a visible show of support for our students and staff who are members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” </strong></b></i><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">says Pam Verhoeff, Division Staff Wellness Lead Teacher. </em></i><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“While it seems simple, seeing the t-shirts around their schools not only shows them who their safe people are, but it shows them that they have a lot of people who have their back and appreciate them for who they are.”</strong></b></i></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 12 student Emma Jane Hogstead, from Leduc Composite High School, and Grade 3 Teacher McKenzie Keil, from École Dansereau Meadows School, had the two winning designs, but voting staff members noted that all 15 entries into the contest this year were so good, that it was difficult to pick just two.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hogstead’s design features a maple leaf mosaiced with pride colours and the message, “One Community. All together. Always.”</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“I am so proud to be a Canadian and am glad to live in a progressive country where I’m able to take part in such contests and be a part of change,”</strong></b></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Hogstead says in regards to her design choices.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Keil’s design features a neutral colour palette, with a rainbow across the shirt and text just above it that reads, </span><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Big Fan of Human Rights.”</strong></b></i></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Keil says, </em></i><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“As a proud ally and supporter of human rights for all, I wanted this design to spread a message of inclusion while being understated.” </strong></b></i></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The two designs will be available for purchase for staff members, with every sale donating $2 to funding for Gay-Straight-Alliances in Black Gold schools. Students and staff that join their school’s GSA groups in the 2026-2027 school year will receive shirts for free thanks to a $2000 grant from the Alberta Teachers’ Association.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Research from Egale Canada shows that 2SLBTQIA+ students who are in supportive schools are five times more likely to be flourishing than those who are not in supportive schools,” </strong></b></i><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Verhoeff adds, and</em></i><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b></i><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">that “</em></i><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">this is one step towards creating those environments.”&nbsp;</strong></b></i></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Verhoeff says, </span><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Thanks to everyone who entered the contest for your creative contributions and your commitment to inclusion in our division!”</strong></b></i></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>