I am writing as a Kelly Road alumni who graduated Kelly Road in 1970.
As indicated by the outpouring of emotional responses, the name of Kelly Road Secondary carries meaning and value to many across the spectrum of generations. Students, alumni, and community members have all provided feedback in many forums including an online petition with more than 10,000 names.
Sadly, some of this response has been negative and downright nasty, creating a situation that most have not faced, particularly within the school. Students in conflict, racist anger in the halls and community, and division among many who had strong friendships and community. All because of the motion of the board and the continued action on this process.
While the board has acknowledged it erred in not consulting with the community, that is simply not enough. Trust is gone, both in the process outlined and the board itself. The Q&A answers and many comments by board members are evasive and lead many to the conclusion that the process is simply to educate on the name change already committed to. It is time for the board to acknowledge the lack of trust in the process, the fact that it has heard from the community loud and clear and state that Kelly Road Secondary will remain Kelly Road Secondary. That does not stop the utilization of Shas Ti in other positive ways.
The board uses the Truth and Reconciliation process as a reason for this name change and yet the results of this motion have created exactly the opposite. Shame on the board. It is time to meet with First Nation leaders and community members and develop true inclusion. In my years at Kelly Road, there was absolutely nothing taught about First Nations, the Indian Act, treaties etc. In the last 50 years, there have been so many changes and yet in discussion with students today there is still very little taught and only by elective choice.
Meaningful reconciliation requires education and funding to support that education for everyone. The board could be a leader in supporting true change on Truth and Reconciliation, working with the bands and educators to develop a mandatory curriculum that is inclusive of historical, up to current events on First Nations history. This is Canadian history and should be taught in all our schools.
Having sat as a trustee on several non-profit boards (the Municipal Pension Plan Board, for example) and taken many courses on trusteeship, I must say this board broke that trusteeship process completely. Continuing with the current consultation process only prolongs the negative impact, mistrust and anger. When the process is not trusted, neither will the result be trusted.
While there have been many racist and angry responses, there has also been some very good ones. Consultation is required and I encourage the board to acknowledge the mistrust and move forward with consultation that will be trusted. This could be done by retitling the consultation process to state the purpose is to keep the name Kelly Road Secondary while determining ways to include the Shas Ti name in meaningful and educational ways throughout the rebuilt school. This could even be done with the current committee structure set up.
Please, act now to change this process from one of anger and mistrust to one of meaning and inclusion. Some within your voting area will never trust any of you again, actions speak louder than words and the current action speaks negatively to many. Change to move to a positive mode is in your hands. As the motion was carried unanimously, any trustee can put it forward for reconsideration and change the wording to be inclusive.
Deb Ducharme
