The Crosstown elementary school kerfuffle appears to be getting a re-think.
Vancouver school trustees and members of the public will weighed in on the downtown school’s seemingly controversial name at a committee meeting last night (Wednesday, Jan. 17), and the issue has been referred to the Jan. 29 board meeting.
The move to re-name the school is being brought forward by Vision trustee Allan Wong, whose motion calls for a re-naming committee to be struck to get the new moniker process started. The intention of Wong’s motion is to settle on a name that’s more culturally and historically significant.
“There are currently over 110 schools in the district and none reflect an Asian name,” Wong’s motion reads. “A name that binds the Asian and Indigenous community would show a powerful understanding and appreciation between the two historical communities.”
At least one half of the proposed dual name has some traction and support: Alexander Won Cumyow elementary school. Cumyow was a Chinese-Canadian activist, court interpreter and legal advisor from the late 1800s and up until his death 1955.
Using Cumyow as a namesake first came up during the initial naming exercise in late 2016. At that time, 39 names were submitted by 47 people, including those that recognized contributions from First Nations and Chinese communities. Terry Fox’s name was also bandied about, along with former Vancouver Canucks coach Pat Quinn, celebrated musician Dal Richards, long-time city councillor Jim Green and George Vancouver.
The school board’s naming policy states:
“Names selected for Vancouver schools should honour the historical and cultural/ethnic heritage — including the First Nations community, recognize outstanding individuals, be reflective of the region, or be significant to the geography of the area. Names of individuals should only be used posthumously.”
Crosstown’s eventual selection in December 2016 was met with immediate derision and political mudslinging from former trustees and the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC). It was also referenced by several trustee candidates in the lead up to last October’s byelection.
“Personally very disheartened by the VSB’s decision tonight not to name the new school at Intl Village something meaningful,” read a tweet from the DPAC’s Twitter account on the night of the decision.
Wong’s motion suggests that frustration hasn’t died down since, and references a number of petitions supporting the change, along with lobbying from various schools and the Chinatown Historical Association.
A pair of delegations were in attendance Wednesday to speak on the issue.
“It is important to recall the strength and importance of building community through built space and place, the opportunity that this renaming offers to honour past histories of the neighbourhood in relation to the future of the community, the city, and most importantly the students of the school,” Dominique Bautista wrote to the school district in advance of her Jan. 17 presentation.
Located adjacent to Rogers Arena, Crosstown elementary opened with 80 students in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 in late March of last year. More than 500 students were enrolled there when it opened for the current school year in September 2017.
@JohnKurucz
