Chilliwack – JUNE 20 UPDATE – This past week, and the final Chilliwack School Board Meeting of the 2019-20 year, Trustee Barry Neufeld once again apologized for a May Facebook comment that clearly fanned the flames of controversy. Neufeld , referring to a video, claimed COVID A Hoax and Canada’s Top Doctor Is Transgender.
It was a story that not only went Province wide, it garnered national scrutiny.
You can see the apology around the 2 hour and 7 minute mark of the School Board Video.
MAY 27 UPDATE – What started out as an in camera meeting of the Chilliwack School Board and what to do about the latest controversy surrounding Trustee Barry Neufeld, is now public knowledge.
At the May 12 regular Chilliwack School Board meeting heard an apology from controversial Trustee Barry Neufeld on his COVID comments and Transgender slur of Dr. Teresa Tam. “I deeply regret and apologize for my comments on social media.” “I will be addressing them more in the near future.”
FVN learned that his legal advisor told him to refrain from speaking about the incident and the now circulated Facebook post (below) has been taken down and his Facebook page disabled.
Neufeld was already barred from being a school liaison, as some teachers and students felt uncomfortable with him in their schools. Now the board has widened the terms.
In a statement from School Board Chair Dan Coulter, it reads in part: the censure include 1) a public announcement of the censure, 2) continuation of Trustee Nuefeld’s lack of liaison duties, 3) removal of Trustee Neufeld from all committees and 4) removal of Trustee Neufeld from invitations to all district events where trustees interact with students and staff.”
MAY 12 UPDATE – The May 12 regular Chilliwack School Board meeting heard an apology from controversial Trustee Barry Neufeld on his COVID comments and Transgender slur of Dr. Teresa Tam. “I deeply regret and apologize for my comments on social media.” “I will be addressing them more in the near future.”
NOTE – School Board Chair Dan Coulter was interviewed May 14 on the chillTV Social media network (YouTube, Facebook, Website) and re-posted to the FVN Social media network as well.
The Chilliwack School District YouTube channel is here.
ORIGINAL STORY – The serenity of the Mother’s Day weekend was shattered when Controversial Chilliwack School Board Trustee Barry Neufeld posted to Facebook, another patented rant.
In it, he cites a video that claims the COVID-19 pandemic is a hoax and goes on to make the claim that Canada’s top Doctor, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam, is part of a greater transgender conspiracy based in China.
You can see the now disabled Facebook post here:
The reaction and pushback has been swift. Rob Flemming, the BC Minister of Education to media that he plans to take this issue with the BC Human Rights Commission.
School Trustees ( and School Board Chair) Dan Coulter and Willow Reischelt reacted with emoji’s.
Morgan Oger, the LGBTQ2 activist and President of the BC NDP simply stated, “Here we go again”.
Glen Hansman, the former President with the BCTF took to Twitter:
This is not the first time Neufeld has sounded off on touchy issues and been politically incorrect. He has been a vocal critic of SOGI 123, Rainbow Crosswalks and been considered homophobic for many of his Facebook postings.
In 2017, Neufeld was instrumental in bringing controversial Culture Guard Leader Kari Simpson into Chilliwack for a speech against LGBTQ2 and SOGI 123 in specific. In February 2019, another similar rally was planned for Evergreen Hall and again Simpson made a speech. At that rally, Neufeld was a no show claiming his lawyer told him not to appear.
Later in 2019, Neufeld was given the opportunity to explain his theories on camera with chillTV. He told chillTV that he was interested, but his lawyer had to be present. He went on to say that he can’t afford to pay his legal fees if his lawyer has to drive out to the Valley from Vancouver all the time. For the record, the offer from chillTV still stands.
