Kelowna Man Accuses 9-Year-Old of Being Trans at School Track Meet
A man accused of verbally assaulting a young girl at a Kelowna track meet may soon be banned from all school property and events, according to Central Okanagan Public Schools (SD23) superintendent Kevin Kaardal.
The incident occurred during the Track and Field Districts at the Apple Bowl on June 8 and has gained public attention after the girl’s mothers brought it to light.
The accused allegedly targeted the girl while she was participating in the shot put event, repeatedly yelling at her and demanding that she be removed from the field. The girl’s mothers attempted to intervene, but the man reportedly continued his verbal assault, going as far as demanding a birth certificate to prove the girl’s gender identity.
The man, who was later identified as Josef Tesar, reportedly made disparaging remarks insinuating that the girl was transgender and should be disqualified from competing. The man and his wife also directed their anger toward one of the mothers, hurling baseless accusations of genital mutilation, grooming, and pedophilia.
The incident deeply affected the young girl, leaving her in tears and unable to focus on her track and field finals. Her parents expressed concerns that the emotional trauma caused by the incident could have long-lasting effects on their daughter’s well-being.
Kaardal emphasized that student safety is the district’s top priority and praised the swift response of SD23 staff, who intervened and relocated the shot put event to defuse the situation. The accused is not associated with SD23, but he has, per Kaardal, reached out to the affected student’s principal to offer an apology.
SD23 is taking action to enforce a ban on the individual in question, citing the School Act as the legal basis for such action. A Section 177 letter will be delivered to the man, officially prohibiting him from entering school property or attending any school-related events.
“SD23 supports the human rights of our students, staff and community. This behavior is unacceptable. Adults need to govern their behavior appropriately,” Kaardal told local outlet NowMedia.
“Our school community is supporting the family and student as required. We are checking in regularly.”
The parents of the girl have reported the incident to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Tesar denies all allegations
In a written statement read aloud to Castanet News, Tesar stated that he had been watching his granddaughter compete when he noticed what he believed was a boy about to participate in the shot put event. Concerned, he approached an official privately to inquire if the event was co-ed.
Tesar emphasized that he never yelled at the girl but instead asked the official a single question regarding the nature of the competition. According to Tesar, the official confirmed that it was a “girls only” event, and he expressed his belief that a boy was among the competitors as he walked away from the official. It was at this point, Tesar claims, that one of the mothers began shouting and swearing at him, making inappropriate remarks.
Tesar’s wife, Krista, corroborated his account and stated that she did not use the derogatory terms the mother accused her of uttering. She admitted to responding with an appropriate phrase, such as “F off.” Tesar believes that the mothers are fabricating lies and exhibiting hate toward him and his wife to serve their own agenda.
“The two mothers of the cisgendered girl — this is their pronunciation, I personally don’t know even what that means,” he said.
“That word is not in my vocabulary. [They] fabricate the lies and hate towards us. I never yelled towards the girl. I went to the official in private and asked one question.”
He confirmed that he reached out to the principal of the girl’s school to share his perspective on the incident.
“I had the conversation with the principal. He said, ‘Josef what you are telling us is exactly what I’m confirming with the teachers and officials,'” he claimed.
Principal Robbie Franklin confirmed that he had a conversation with Tesar over the phone, saying that he listened to Tesar’s explanation and relayed the information to relevant district personnel who are currently investigating the matter.
“He called and did express an apology. I listened to what he explained. So I wasn’t at the event and what I heard was second-hand accounts from other people including himself and what he expressed to me,” Franklin said.
Tesar stands by his question about the event being co-ed, stating that he has the right to ask questions. He called for an apology from the mothers, accusing them of offering inappropriate remarks and making false statements that defamed his character in front of the public.
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