February 23, 2021
Re: Renaming of schools to align with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
An open letter to: the student action group from Langevin School (Calgary),
We would like to congratulate you on your advocacy work in an effort to change the name of your school. We support your work and believe changing the name is a meaningful way to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.
Your words that Hector-Louis Langevin “caused hurt and pain and that we don’t want to honour that” is a testament to the important work public education plays in Truth and Reconciliation and we are so very impressed with your determination to make change in your community. Support Our Students Alberta stands in solidarity with you and your classmates in calling for the renaming of Langevin School as well as any other school names that honour those in our past that caused trauma and harm, and continue to disenfranchise Indigenous communities.
The CBE’s lack of acknowledgement of your letters illustrates how misaligned the leadership is with the curriculum being delivered in Alberta classrooms and the work happening around our nation. By not engaging with students on this issue they are not honoring the trust we have all invested in our representatives to move the Truth and Reconciliation work forward. We need representatives who understand why renaming public institutions is an integral part of the TRC’s Calls to Action and who have the political will to ensure systemic racism is confronted. This work should have already been underway.
Support Our Students Alberta is a non-partisan, volunteer citizen advocacy organization that is working to improve universal access to equitable public education in Alberta. We recognize that institutionalized and systemic racism in the education system exists. Addressing racism requires the commitment of leaders like all of you to make meaningful and positive change. We stand with you and the students who are leading this important activism work and offer you our support as you continue this effort.
Sincerely,
Team SOS Alberta
Re: Renaming of schools to align with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
An open letter to: the student action group from Langevin School (Calgary),
We would like to congratulate you on your advocacy work in an effort to change the name of your school. We support your work and believe changing the name is a meaningful way to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.
Your words that Hector-Louis Langevin “caused hurt and pain and that we don’t want to honour that” is a testament to the important work public education plays in Truth and Reconciliation and we are so very impressed with your determination to make change in your community. Support Our Students Alberta stands in solidarity with you and your classmates in calling for the renaming of Langevin School as well as any other school names that honour those in our past that caused trauma and harm, and continue to disenfranchise Indigenous communities.
The CBE’s lack of acknowledgement of your letters illustrates how misaligned the leadership is with the curriculum being delivered in Alberta classrooms and the work happening around our nation. By not engaging with students on this issue they are not honoring the trust we have all invested in our representatives to move the Truth and Reconciliation work forward. We need representatives who understand why renaming public institutions is an integral part of the TRC’s Calls to Action and who have the political will to ensure systemic racism is confronted. This work should have already been underway.
Support Our Students Alberta is a non-partisan, volunteer citizen advocacy organization that is working to improve universal access to equitable public education in Alberta. We recognize that institutionalized and systemic racism in the education system exists. Addressing racism requires the commitment of leaders like all of you to make meaningful and positive change. We stand with you and the students who are leading this important activism work and offer you our support as you continue this effort.
Sincerely,
Team SOS Alberta
| open_letter_name_change.pdf |