Toronto School Board Requests Queen Victoria Public School Change Name Citing Queen’s ‘Racist Legacy’
By Chrissy Clark
A Canadian school board is preparing to change the name of a public school named after Queen Victoria, citing the Queen’s alleged “racist legacy.”
The Planning and Priorities Committee submitted a request on behalf of the school council’s Black Student Success Committee, according to Truth North. The black student committee wants to begin the process of “changing the school name” of Queen Victoria Public School.
“Under our current policies, a request of this nature can be initiated from a school or local community,” the request states. “The response from School Council has been excitement at the possibility of being able to engage in the school renaming process. The desire to have a new name is representative of a ‘fresh start’ for the school community amongst a range of other positive changes.”
On April 21, the City of Toronto passed the “Renaming Schools Celebrating the Diversity of Toronto” motion. The motion claims that there aren’t enough schools named after indigenous or black leaders.
“Some school names do not reflect the values of contemporary Toronto,” the motion reads. “Some schools are named after people with a racist legacy.”