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Good move

I've been reading a lot of polarizing posts about the proposed name change for the new Kelly Road Secondary and wanted to voice an opinion that I think not a lot of people have been considering.

I've been reading a lot of polarizing posts about the proposed name change for the new Kelly Road Secondary and wanted to voice an opinion that I think not a lot of people have been considering.

As a former student of Kelly Road who was blessed with a wonderful experience, I am sad to see the name of my school being changed. Kelly Road meant a lot to me. It's where I met my friends, it's where I made some incredible memories, it's where I played basketball, it's where I became inspired to study education to become a teacher myself.

When I first read that SD57 was considering changing the name, I felt sad but after some consideration I don't think the school being named Kelly Road is what gave me those great experiences. What did give me those great experiences and what made the name Kelly Road important me was so much more. 

It was the teaching staff and the care they put into their work, the time they spent with their students. It was the coaches, parents and family members who volunteered their time to teach me the value of being active and team player. It was being involved in the cafeteria program that taught me more about cooking. It was being able to walk into the GSA meeting and being fully accepted. It was the culture that the students and faculty created within the walls. 

I think a lot of us are sad that Kelly Road might being taken down because we all had amazing and impactful experiences that lead to the name of our school meaning so much. And I, like many others, am confused as to why the name change seemed to come so abruptly. However, I feel as though this is a situation in which I need to check my privilege and not jump on the bandwagon of anger.

After reevaluating my feelings on the impact of this situation, I've decided to let the changing of the name of the school mean nothing to me and recognize that to the Indigenous community of Prince George it means everything. Without getting too much into a gray area surrounding reconciliation, as an Indigenous student who really cannot identify anything from her culture due to the generational effects of the residential school systems, I can see how the small act of changing of a school's name can mean so much. With the changing of the name from Kelly Road to Shas Ti, members of the Lheidli T'enneh community can feel recognized. Elder Kenora Stewart shared her story that was passed down about the grizzly bears that roamed the area and how those animals held great sentiment and value to their culture. And although it may be a small act of reconciliation, it is still a step in the right direction.

That being said, I would like to say to the school district board members that this name change means absolutely nothing if it is not followed up with adequate funding for the future Indigenous students or less privileged students of Shas Ti. As the name changes, the school district must follow through on funding programs like the Raven House that was in Kelly Road that I know many students benefited from. There needs to be an after-school program that gives students an opportunity to learn valuable life skills, like how to apply for a job, how to cope with anxiety, how to cook, how to prepare for college or university.

Even though I loved Kelly Road, there was a distinct lack of student engagement once the bell rang. Schools must support their students and school districts must support their faculty.

I understand that many feel a deep attachment to their high school. I share this. I feel a deep sadness to know that my school will no longer be standing, to know that the school, my dad, my brother and so many of my friends went to will be gone. However, I feel as though I have been given enough to hold Kelly Road in my memories forever.

My hope is that as the school changes and become Shas Ti, the future students attending the high school will receive every bit of opportunity, acceptance and happiness that I felt walking the halls of Kelly Road. As Shas Ti begins to create its own memories and culture, I hope that the school district takes this opportunity to properly support and fund its future students and staff. 

There is a chance now for SD57 to have a real impact and movement towards proper reconciliation with the Indigenous community of Prince George. Moving forward, we need to make the name Shas Ti mean something to the future students and faculty attending, just like how the name Kelly Road became something more to those that attended.

To those fighting for the name to remain the same, I want you to take a moment to think about the things that made Kelly Road so special. Was it just the name? Or was it the people inside the school who made it more? Kelly Road holds quite an impactful legacy to the people of Prince George. Let's hold that legacy near to our hearts and let Shas Ti build its own.

They deserve just as much as everyone else.

Madyson Campbell

Prince George