As a Grade10 student of Kelly Road, I do not agree with the proposed name change. Kelly Road is more than just a name, it has become a community and has been around for more than 50 years. Generations of families have gone to this school, including my own, and this news has upset many people. As part of truth and reconciliation I understand the suggestion, history, and why it was voted for, however I do not support it. We could talk about compromise and pleasing both sides of this situation. Or we could keep the name as it is.
After hearing word of the move to change Kelly Road’s name, many were immediately angered. Our families have gone to this school in the past, and so have some of the teachers. Our aunts, uncles, parents, and siblings, had the privilege to say they graduated from Kelly Road Secondary School. Knowing my friends and I may never be able to say that, is truly heartbreaking. Not to mention the load of money recently spent on new jerseys reading “Kelly Road Road Runners” was spent for only short time use. The name change is not only angering, but financially, not a good move at this time.
As a part of truth and reconciliation, we must consider the possibility of the name change in honour of the land the school is currently on, the grizzly trail. Its importance to the Lheidli T’enneh people makes the school name suggestion that much more important. However, why can’t we both make some compromises, and come up with something meaningful for all?
The Kelly Road name should not be erased, as if it was written in pencil. Instead, let's talk about incorporating both names into the school’s new title, if a new title is necessary at all. What if we kept Kelly Road’s name and just added on to it? “Kelly Road, Shas Ti Secondary,'' and put up a board in the new front lobby with the history of the land and story of the grizzly trail. It binds the two titles together and shows equal importance for both names.
The decision was only made last week to start the process of renaming but could we rename the new name? It may be just a name, but for some it’s a lot more.
Katherine Burnett
Prince George
