Our school is beginning an exciting new chapter and we want to hear from you, our valued members of the school community, as we begin the process of renaming our school!
Join us on Thursday, February 24, 2022 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. for a virtual town hall to discuss the shortlisted names proposed for the renaming of Queen Victoria Public School!
The virtual town hall will provide an opportunity to learn more about the five shortlisted names. The Queen Victoria School Renaming Committee created the shortlist from names suggested by the community. Those names are:
- Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott
- Dr. Rita Cox
- Dr. Martin Luther King Junior
- Minogi - It Grows Well
- Michelle Obama
To learn more about each proposed shortlisted name, visit the Shortlisted Names page.
Why the Name Change is Happening
In the spring of 2021, TDSB Trustees passed a motion at a Board Meeting to form a school renaming committee at Queen Victoria Public School following a request from parents on behalf of the school community.
The school renaming committee was formed in October 2021 and is composed of students, staff, parents/guardians, members of the Black Student Success Committee, QV school council members and Parkdale community members.
The response so far has been excitement at the possibility of being able to actively participate in the school renaming process. The new name, once chosen, will honour and reflect the values of our school, the TDSB and the neighbourhood.
How You Can Participate
The school community is invited to participate in the school renaming process. One way community members can take part is by suggesting a potential new school name. A list of criteria was created by our school renaming committee. Suggestions were submitted through a Google Form Submission. The submission deadline was Friday, January 21, 2022.
Criteria for Names
The school renaming committee will be reviewing the submitted names, which must adhere to the criteria listed below. Submissions can be based on a combination of the of the following criteria:
- Honours Indigenous Peoples and those who self-identify as Black and/or racialized.
- Reflects the school’s commitment to social justice, equity, anti-oppression and antiracism.
- Commemorates the rich history of the local Parkdale community.
- Reflects the strengths, diversity and positive characteristics of the Parkdale community of today.
- Exemplifies integrity, leadership and community contribution at a local, district, provincial, Canadian or international level.
Please note: The names of local, provincial, national or international politicians who are currently in office will be excluded from consideration.
Next Steps
The submission deadline was January 21, 2022. Once this is complete, the school renaming committee will review the submissions and create a shortlist of the potential names. The shortlist of names will be presented at a virtual town hall where the committee will collect feedback from the community.
The school renaming committee will then recommend one name that will be presented to the Board of Trustees for a final decision in 2022.