Calgary school vaccine email error shows ‘dark side of web’

A Calgary music school email to the parents of its students went viral for all the wrong reasons.

The email was shared on the Facebook page Calgary Roast and Toast, which got hundreds of comments and reactions. The post has since been deleted.

“Roast to Chinook School of Music, how is this still even a thing,” the deleted post read.

A Facebook post shared on the Roast and Toast page had over 700 comments before being deleted. (Facebook)

Carrie Kalmakoff, the co-owner and co-executive director of Calgary’s Chinook Music School for 21 years, says this post has triggered a series of hate that has no end. She says she has been receiving hate calls, messages, and emails.

“It all started when one of our teachers sent out an email using an old template that referenced a policy we had during the time of the pandemic in regards to vaccine passports,” Kalmakoff told CityNews.

“That email went viral and ended up on a Facebook site with 714 comments. In short, a lot of negative responses for a mistake, a human error.”

One email she shared with CityNews read, “Vaccine requirements are not required in schools, now you *** are telling unvaccinated parents, they need to be vaccinated to pick up their kids. Your disgusting…”

An email sent to the co-owner of the Chinook School of Music, Carrie Kalmakoff. (Courtesy of Carrie Kalmakoff)

It says that they will report the email to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who has said she is “quite prepared to make those phone calls” to businesses with vaccine mandates, along with receiving calls from anyone who spots any “discrimination” related to COVID-19 mandates.

Vaccine requirements have diminished significantly, and there are no laws against employers or organizations requiring vaccines for health and safety in Alberta, so long as the policies make room for human rights like religious or medical exemptions.

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Psychologist Dr. Brent Macdonald says it’s very easy for people to hide behind their computer screens and abuse others, something they would never do in real life.

“Certainly, the past couple of years have shown us that we do have a dark aspect to us. And that dark aspect can be fed very easily and encouraged. And we’re learning ways to encourage these negative behaviors, which is not great,” Macdonald said.

He says such instances reveal the dark side of Canadians on the web, but there is always another side to the coin.

“There are 700 comments on this one post. I would hope, and I would argue that a lot of people, and I would say the majority of people who don’t post, are supportive of the idea that let’s have a conversation,” Macdonald said.

“They just didn’t comment on this Facebook post, but they are out there.”

Kalmakoff says while the school received a lot of hate, it also received a lot of support. She says she is thankful to those parents who, instead of criticism, took the initiative of reaching out to the school to ask what happened.

She says she is concerned for the mental well-being of her staff and students.

“Consider the fact that children were involved that this is a school of music is for children to have a safe place to self-express. I think it’s important for adults to consider the impact and the examples that we are setting for the children and our next generation,” Kalmakoff said.

-With files from Carly Robinson