Sir John A. Macdonald name will remain on Calgary school despite reconciliation controversy: board

Sir John A. Macdonald School in Huntington Hills will keep its name after the Calgary Board of Education dissolved its name review committee. (Supplied/Google Maps)

The Calgary Board of Education says a northwest school, named after Canada's first prime minister, will keep its name.

The board released the decision about Sir John A. Macdonald School in Huntington Hills last week, saying that it disbanded the name review committee, formed more than two years ago, at the end of June.

It said it would "not proceed" with any further review and the name would stay.

“This was a difficult and complex decision. There are diverse and polarizing perspectives on the legacy of Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald,” the CBE said in an emailed statement Tuesday.

“We know this decision is disappointing to some members of our community. As a learning organization, we remain committed to reconciliation through education.”

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The committee was formed in 2022 to review the appropriateness of the junior high school's name given that Macdonald authorized the creation of Canada's residential school system.

Students at the school were calling on the board to change the name after questions were raised about the land near a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.

Officials discovered a number of ground disturbances, believed by some to be unmarked graves, but no human remains have been found at the site.

"No Indigenous, Black, Chinese, or racialized students should have to attend a school with a name that is a constant reminder of such violence and abuse," said then-student Makena Halvorsen.

"Schools are supposed to be safe places to learn."

The CBE says its board of trustees will "dedicate its time and energy to the goals of the education plan" and support the well-being and success of everyone at the school.

“Namely, dedicating the time and energy to advance the Board’s priorities of achievement, equity and well-being for all students including those who self-identify as Indigenous and creating opportunities for all students, staff, and school communities to engage in practices that facilitate reconciliation,” the CBE said.

In June 2021, the CBE renamed Langevin School to Riverside School to remove ties to Hector-Louis Langevin, another father of Confederation who oversaw the implementation of Canada's residential schools.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Catholic School District renamed Bishop Grandin High School for the same reasons.

That school is now known as Our Lady of the Rockies.