Halloween costumes: How to celebrate - and dress up - appropriately

With Halloween around the corner, students and staff alike may be excited to dress up this week, but it's important to be mindful that costumes do not include elements of cultural appropriation or other potentially offensive themes.

Cultural appropriation is the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of customs, practices, ideas or elements of a culture or identity by members of another. Some Halloween costumes may be unsuitable if they contain elements of:

• Race or ethnicity (i.e. blackface, brownface)
• Culture (i.e. Indigenous regalia/headdresses, hijabs, dreadlocks)
• Religion or faith (i.e. religious figures, gods, saints, gurus)
• Gender (i.e. gender switching for the purpose of humour or mockery)
• Ableism (i.e. mocking physical or mental abilities)

Some costumes may also be traumatic if they contain violent imagery, such as weaponry or a hangman's noose. Students and staff are reminded to be aware of cultural or racial stereotypes with their costumes and consider if their outfit may be offensive to others.

Our district is committed to preventing harm by engaging our community in critical conversations about cultural appropriation and stereotypes and reminding our students and staff to be thoughtful about their costume choices.

There are many creative, fun and safe ways to dress up as without misrepresenting other cultures and identities. Let's appreciate instead of appropriate so that everyone may have a safe and fun Halloween.