WRDSB approves motion for review of school names to see if there are racist links

Waterloo Region District School Board approved a motion Monday night for a review of the names of all schools and board facilities to see if there are any with racist links.

Trustee Kathleen Woodcock moved a motion calling for a committee to be set up to carry out the review.

"[The committee] is to review the names of all the schools and board facilities using an anti-racist lens," Woodcock told CBC News.

"The motion calls for meaningful engagement of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities in the district and it's important that members from those communities are on the committee."

The committee will pay specific attention to policy 4020, which is used when naming and renaming board facilities.

There are also some related administrative procedures that would have to be looked at if changes are recommended.

"The committee is to develop their own scope for the review and some timelines for completion, and hopefully bring recommendations about this review of the names of all the schools and board facilities by February 2021," Woodcock said.

Woodcock acknowledged that the timeline might be unrealistic, "considering what we're dealing with with the pandemic."

'It's time to take some action'

Woodcock's call for the review comes at a time when discussions on racial injustices, inequality and anti-Black racism are at the forefront around the world in light of the Black Lives Matter movement and recent events.

"The WRDSB has already acknowledged that racism and racial harassment does exist within the education sector and within our own board; and if we don't start taking some concrete actions now, when will we?" she questioned.

"The call for action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, that's pointing to some actions about fighting racism in systems that have been there for, I think, a long time. We can't do it though without engaging the racialized communities who have experienced this racism. I think it's really important now.

"The Black Lives Matter movement has also influenced and brought these important issues to the fore so it's time to take some action," she added.

Woodcock would not share her opinion on whether any schools in the region should be on the list.

"I don't want to presuppose the work of the committee," Woodcock said.

"I will say this, that if the committee results in recommending changes to the policy or changes to names of schools, I will probably support those recommendations."