A Burnaby civic party that formed in opposition to the school district's gay-friendly policy is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whomever made a death threat against a local teacher.
The note, sent to a teacher in June, called for a withdraw of policy 5.45, which was designed to protect staff and students from homophobic harassment.
"You want to destroy our children! You are our enemy! You will be shot," it read.
James Sanyshyn, vice-president of the Burnaby Teachers' Association, presented the threatening note at a Nov. 1 all-candidates debate for school trustees. He asked Burnaby Parent's Voice candidate Charter Lau if he was aware of any hate threat that may have come from supporters of his party, to which Lau replied, no.
Lau said he offered to help look into the matter, when speaking to Sanyshyn after the meeting.
"This is unbelievable. If the letter is true, it's very serious," Lau said in an interview with the NOW. "It's serious. I don't want anyone to get hurt."
Lau said the reward money is coming from the pockets of Burnaby Parents' Voice supporters. The party is challenging the teachers' association and other candidates to match the $2,000 reward and to denounce all forms of hate, including the racists online comments directed towards Asian supporters of Parents' Voice.
Burnaby Parents' Voice has consulted a lawyer about possible defamation linked to Sanyshyn's presentation at the all-candidates meeting, even though Sanyshyn did not directly accuse the party of penning the death threat.
"That is a strong hint," Lau said, "that your are suggesting what you think is most likely."
Parents Voice has never attacked anyone or been violent, Lau said.
"If someone, ... an idiot does something, does something, then how does it relate to us? It doesn't stick," he said.
Sanyshyn pointed out that he did not accuse anyone.
"I was just asking if they were aware of any threats," Sanyshyn said. However, he spoke of an "electrified" environment with Parents' Voice rallies and speeches against the policy.
The Burnaby NOW is aware of one other similar death threat to someone else in the district, but that person wishes to remain anonymous at this time. Burnaby RCMP are investigating the matter but could not comment further.
