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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香蕉视频直播淎 controversial and potentially very divisive story time program has arisen within the ORL,香蕉视频直播� Nettleton said in the memo dated Sept. 18.

香蕉视频直播淎lmost half of the leadership team was strongly in support of the library being involved in this type of programming 香蕉视频直播� 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.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淭he announced program, while claiming to be promoting diversity and acceptance, will be offensive to a significant segment of our society,香蕉视频直播� Nettleton said.

香蕉视频直播淭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.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播� including the drag queen story telling event 香蕉视频直播� will continue as is for the foreseeable future

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

香蕉视频直播淚t hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been scheduled yet. It will be something happens sooner than later, and no later than next month.香蕉视频直播�

Despite the controversy, drag queen story telling events aren香蕉视频直播檛 new to Kelowna.

Indigo Kelowna has been offering drag queen story time events with iconic drag queens like 香蕉视频直播淒aisy Confused香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淔reida Whales香蕉视频直播� for at least two years.

connor.trembley@kelownacapnews.com
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