Port Alberni elementary school receives new Indigenous name
On the eve of Canada's first ever Truth and Reconciliation Day, Port Alberni's Board of Education is marking the event by changing an elementary school so it has a First Nations name.
"There would be a lot of our ancestors who would be pretty emotional to see a day like this when there was a time when we weren't even allowed to come to schools like this," said Tseshaht First Nation Elected Chief Councillor Ken Watts.
In a ceremony Wednesday morning, School District 70 renamed A.W. Neill Elementary as Tsuma-as Elementary.
"There aren't a lot of schools that have taken on Indigenous names throughout B.C., especially here on the West Coast," Watts said.
The board decided to change the name after a researcher discovered the controversial history of Alan Webster Neill, the person the school was named after.
Former federal and provincial politician Alan Webster Neill sits with his dog in a photo from 1955 at the age of 87. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Alberni Valley Museum Photograph PN1247)
Neill was a former Port Alberni mayor, member of parliament and member of the B.C. legislature.
History shows Neill was very vocal against people of Asian heritage and was also involved in the operation of the Alberni Indian Residential Schools.
"I think it's going to be the first of many re-namings," said Watts. "Not just sites or schools or facilities, but street names have changed and other things are happening slowly."
Tsuma-as is a First Nation name meaning, "Little creek running all over the ground."
But not everyone was supportive of the change.
"Some people didn't want that, they objected to that, making a change, they did not want that to happen," said Pam Craig, chair of the Board of Education.
"But it became clear after the discussion that people were understanding why we were looking to do that," she said.
Craig says the change was six years in the making.
"Yes, it took a while, but it became obvious because we talked about, 'Why would we do this?'" said Craig.
"Well we want to connect our people, we want our people in the community to be together and work together," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's how much more Canadian landlords are asking for now, according to a just-released report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.