An elementary school in Alberta, Canada, has canceled its Christmas concert, announcing instead that an “inclusive” spring concert will be held in 2025.
True North reporter Rachel Parker shared the news on X.
The first event was not advertised as a Christmas concert, the announcement noted, calling it a “Winter Concert.”
“A Spring Concert allows us to host a special performance event for families that includes all students,” the announcement read.
Anne Martens, the principal of Pat Hardy Elementary School, said in the announcement, “Christmas season is a busy and sometimes stressful time for families and schools. After discussion with our Pat Hardy School Advisory Council and school staff, we have reached the decision not to have a Winter Concert this December,” adding that the music teacher is “excited to host a concert that is not limited to a specific theme such as Christmas.”
Because “not all students celebrate Christmas” and “preparing for a concert involves months of preparations and daily practice in the final weeks prior to the event,” non-participating students are excluded from hours of activities.
“There is far less going on in the springtime, which makes it easier for students to manage the additional practice time.”
