Webber Academy
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2021) |
| Webber Academy Webber Academiae | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
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1515 – 93rd Street, S.W. Computer Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Classrooms | ~40 |
| Campus size | 47 acres |
| Houses | 4 |
| Colour(s) | |
| Song | Red Sun in The Sky |
| Mascot | Wylie the Wildcat |
| Publication | Voices Magazine |
| School fees | 15,500 baseline fee |
| Website | www |
Webber Academy is a non-denominational, co-educational, university preparatory, private school located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Webber Academy offers academics spanning from junior kindergarten through grade 12. It was founded in 1997 by Dr. Neil Webber, a former teacher and professor at Mount Royal University, who also served as an Alberta Cabinet Minister in the Hon. Peter Lougheed and Hon. Don Getty governments.[1]
The campus consists of a junior kindergarten and senior kindergarten facility, a main building with elementary and senior school wings, third floor science centre, two full-size gymnasiums, an outdoor sports court, several playgrounds and a 400-meter running track. The school is situated on a 47-acre campus in southwest Calgary, currently home to 977 students (as of Oct 2016). Recently, an arts centre was built for the drama and music programmes, and its 500-seat theatre and dressing rooms can be rented out for public events.
Criticism
In 2012, two Muslim students were denied the right to privately pray on campus grounds.[2] The students continued to conduct their prayers outside the building, but were repeatedly interrupted and questioned by campus staff.[2] After a filed complaint, a human rights tribunal decided that "despite [Webber]'s specifically stated goal of making people of all religious backgrounds feel welcome, its actions, objectively viewed, were not welcoming." Webber Academy refused to re-enroll the students the following school year, and the students were awarded $26,000 in damages by the Alberta Human Rights Commission in 2015.[3][4]
In 2018, Alberta Education discontinued an online resource that included a question regarding positive effects of residential schools.[5] Neil Webber, president of the academy, noted that "[Webber's Staff] want our teachers to discuss both positive and negative aspects of [residential schools]." In the same interview, Webber also mentioned "Whether it's slavery in the U.S. or Canada's relationship with Iraq or Iran, I think...you need to consider both the positive and negative benefits.[6]"
References
- ^ "Calgary private schools report spike in enrolment as back-to-school looms | CBC News".
- ^ a b "Webber Academy ordered to pay damages to 2 Muslim students over denying prayer at school". CBC.
- ^ Dryden, John. "Commission rules in favour of 2 Muslim students who wanted prayer at private school". CBC.
- Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta2016).
- ^ Huncar, Andrea (September 21, 2018). "'Offensive' online test about Indigenous Canadians symptom of larger problem in Alberta schools, say advocates". CBC.
- ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
External links
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| National | |
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