Those on the front lines of the controversy that unfolded in the Peel District School Board this school year over religious accommodation have been awarded for their stance.

Education director Tony Pontes, communications director Brian Woodland and the board as a whole were recognized by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) at a May 6 awards event in Toronto.

During a presentation at the May 9 board meeting, trustee Robert Crocker said the Peel board's award is for "its ongoing efforts to nurture inclusive schools for all."

Crocker said the plaques for Pontes and Woodland were for "standing up for the human rights of all students."

"It is the role of organizations to speak up on behalf of people in the community; to speak up on behalf of those who are attacked; that no Canadian should have to experience hate, which we've seen happen," Woodland told The News.

"For us, we just feel that that was doing our job."

Pontes said it was a joint award that acknowledges a commitment to equity and "standing up even when it's difficult."

A change to an operating procedure in the board around religious accommodation for Muslims sparked the issue earlier this school year.

Initially, members of the Muslim community were upset because the change involved students no longer being allowed to write their own sermons for Friday prayer, instead using pre-written ones.

Amid the backlash, the board paused the decision last fall and allowed students to write their own sermons, provided they were submitted for review.