Kamloops dress code to be updated after controversy over teen’s outfit

KAMLOOPS (NEWS 1130) — The father of a teen accused of violating the dress code at her Kamloops high school this week is confident positive change is coming — thanks to her taking a stand.

On Tuesday, Karis Wilson went to NorKam Secondary wearing a lace-trimmed slip dress over a long-sleeved turtleneck.

The Grade 12 student says she felt humiliated when her teacher told her the outfit was not appropriate and escorted her down to the principal’s office.

Later that same day, her dad — Chris Wilson — posted a video on social media that quickly went viral about the 17-year-old going home in tears.

He now says he’s heard from school trustees and the principal who want his daughter to return as soon as possible.

“We had a great conversation. Definitely not coming down on Karis or blaming her or anything, it was a discussion originally based around we understand this happened and a concern for her education. She’s not feeling great about going back into class. She’s about three credits away from graduation. We’re working with the school closely to make sure that we can build something that allows for her to complete her schooling.”

“On a national scale, it’s creating enough attention for people to really take a look at what they’re doing.”
Latest from #Kamloops dad Chris Wilson who says dress code at daughter’s school is under review after she was told wearing a dress over turtleneck not appropriate. #bced

— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) February 26, 2021

Wilson says Karis is not ready to return because she’s still upset what she wore that day could be considered offensive by anyone, but his latest conversation with Principal Jonathan Brady was productive.

“He kind of realized that we needed to bring this in to the next century and it was something that they were looking to do in the near future, so this was something that was kind of already on their plate of, ‘Hey, we should get to this and, unfortunately, it wasn’t in time for this specific incident, but I do see changes coming in the school dress code.”

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Wilson adds school trustees who’ve reached out to him have also indicated updating the dress code is part of a review launched after he complained to the school district.

“On a national scale, it’s creating enough attention for people to really take a look at what they’re doing.”

He confirms Karis was not ordered to go home on Tuesday, as he originally said she was. Instead, she chose to leave after the vice-principal — who supported her — noticed she was understandably upset.

“I truly believe that she was on Karis’s side. She was given the option to go home.”

School district administrators, who continue to review the events leading up to Wilson’s daughter leaving school on Tuesday, say they are not able to confirm any specific details, but “We can tell you that a NorKam student would not be sent home because of a dress code infraction.”

With files from David Zura, Mike Lloyd, and Denise Wong