I was a PE teacher and coach at KRSS for 31 years, from 1972 to 2003. Through those years, I became a large part of the community and school. I watched two major expansions. I am not in favour of any name change or addition to the name. KRSS is an established institution within the Hart community. I taught children of former students. KRSS has a fantastic history in academics and sports. I coached close to 50 different teams through the years. The colours and the roadrunner are well known through out the province. In The Citizen Extra of Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, is an excellent article about the history and activities of KRSS.
I don’t understand how an outside small group can impose a name change on a much larger group of cohesive Hart Highway residents that have supported KRSS through so many years.
The naming of the school was very appropriate. John Kelly was an important pioneer of early Prince George. He owned the area and logged it, was an important supporter of the early Horticultural Society and spearheaded the organization of the PGX. The famous Kelly Cup (curling trophy) was donated by him. It is also rumoured that he donated the land for the original elementary school. Any name change would indeed be an insult to his and his family's legacy.
As trustees, you have been elected to make many huge choices and decisions. But, these should be educational decisions. This proposal is not in that category. This proposal has nothing to do with reconciliation. In fact, the way it was introduced was wrong and has caused a huge backlash within the Hart community.
I hope you have been following the site on Facebook entitled “Don’t Rename Kelly Road Secondary School.” That should indicate to you that the backlash is indeed real and widespread. Introducing this proposal during the blockades across Canada was not wise. You have pitted one group against another. Racism has become part of the equation and shouldn’t be. Can you imagine if it was suggested that Duchess Park Secondary’s name be changed?
This should not be an issue. In these troubled times (pandemic), I find that I should not be concerning myself with this at all and neither should the board. The trustees all have a lot more important problems to be solved in the education field. Please rescind this issue and make it go away. Remember that reconciliation should come from within not from without. The new school is an extension of the old and will add to the old building's legacy in the future!
I put a lot of “blood, sweat, tears and cheers” into teaching and coaching (as did many others) at KRSS. We are all proud of the accomplishments of the institution called KRSS and would like to see those triumphs continue under the umbrella of the Royal Blue/White/Kelly Green colours and the uncatchable roadrunner.
Walter Brown
Prince George
