TVDSB pulls out of fall WOSSAA and OFSAA competition

Southwestern Ontario’s largest school board has announced its students won’t be participating in WOSSAA and OFSAA competition this fall to better protect them from COVID-19.

The Thames Valley District School Board said Monday the main focus of its athletic teams will instead be on skill development and interschool play within the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA).

“All of our partner boards – London District Catholic, and Conseil Scolaire Viamonde (French First Language), Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence (French Catholic), and the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (London Christian High) – support extracurriculars of fully vaccinated students and have a similar process in place,” the board said in a statement. “Thames Valley’s primary focus is the health and safety of participants, volunteers, and staff. Currently, some athletic associations have not mandated the same public health standards regarding vaccination of student-athletes, volunteers, and officials.”

The decision to bow out of regional and provincial competition was made after consultation with the Middlesex-London Health Unit and Southwestern Public Health.

Additional information about winter season play will be made by the TVRA once it is available, the board said.

Read original story from London Ontario – BlackburnNews.com