FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – For now, the newest elementary school in School District 60 is being referred to as ‘North West Elementary School’, due to its geographic location in relation to the rest of the City. But the District wanted to establish a formal name for it soon, and also establish a protocol for school-naming in the future while they’re at it.
“We need to give the site a proper name so we can start dealing with it on a provincial basis,” said Superintendent Dave Sloan, during Monday’s Committee of the Whole Meeting.
When Sloan looked, he said all he could find was a motion set forward in 1964 for the naming of one school, which the District believed could have been for Bert Bowes Middle School.
The namesakes of schools in the District range from recognition of local figures, to geographic references. In Fort St. John, the majority of the schools within city limits are named after famous figures, with the exception of North Peace Secondary School and École Central Elementary School, which received a nod to geography.
Outside of Fort St. John, the rest of the schools are named for their region, such as Baldonnel Elementary School and Upper Pine Elementary School.
In the Committee of the Whole meeting, Sloan sent forward a recommendation that trustees establish criteria for a naming-protocol, and offered a few suggestions. The District also looked at other jurisdictions to see how they name their new schools. He found that both Edmonton, and an Ontario community called Halton, take suggestions from the public subject to criteria. According to his research, Calgary has a naming committee both headed and run by trustees.
He recommended that schools be named after people who have made valuable contributions to the community, who represent diversity, and are renowned for historical and humanitarian contributions. He also recommended the names of notable figures be of those that have been deceased for at least five years, stand the test of time, and not be of people who are employees or trustees of the school board.
However, if schools are to named after a person, Sloan suggested trustees consider the name of a female pioneer to the community – as all the schools in the District that are named after people are named after men. He cited a push from the North Peace Historical Society to see more recognition of female figures in public buildings.
“If we’re going to continue the practice of naming buildings after people, we might want to add a little gender diversity,” Sloan said.
The names of iconic female pioneers who left an impact on the area were suggested, including Margaret Murray, Monica Storrs, Bella Yahey, and Anne Young.
Murray spearheaded the launch of the Alaska Highway News alongside her husband, George. She was very involved with the community and was remembered for bringing her intelligence and outspoken voice to a variety of topics, including politics to farming.
Storrs lived in the area from 1929 to 1950, before returning to England. According to a letter, she contributed to the community by traveling far distances to take care of people, for her work. She also accommodated students so they could attend school in town. Trustees received a letter from a student at Upper Pine Elementary School, urging them to name the new school after Storrs.
Yahey was born to the Great Chief Attachie of the Beaver First Nation, whom, in 1900, signed Treaty 8. She married Charlie Yahey, the namesake of Charlie Lake, and passed away at the age of 118 in 1976. It’s believed she was the oldest living Canadian at the time of her death.
Young was the first registered nurse in the North Peace region. She is remembered for delivering between 300 to 400 babies, and sometimes having to travel to homesteads on horseback in outrageously cold temperatures to do it. The North Peace Museum has a quilt made by Young, which bears the names of 99 babies she delivered.
Sloan also presented a list of notable men who had an impact on the history of the area, as well.
The list includes Dr. Vasil Szilagyi, a pioneer dentist in the community; Grant McConachie, an avioator and founder of Canadian Pacific Airline; Ross H MacLean, a long-time supporter of minor hockey and youth athletics; and Alexander MacKenzie, an explorer and widely accepted as the first European to explore the area.
Considering the geographic possibilities, Sloan said the District could consider Sunset Ridge Elementary, or even just stick with North West Elementary at the end of the day.
The $24.8-million school is expected to be finished by the end of next year. The two-storey K-6 school, near the Sunset Ridge residential development, will have room for 365 students altogether: 40 kindergarten students and 325 in grades 1 to 6.
The City of Fort St. John awarded the District with their $2.5 million contribution in February, for a community centre/gymnasium at the school.