Wolseley School: The group will apply to the school department for a name change

A petition has been submitted to rename a Winnipeg school due to its historical past.

The Wolseley School Parent Council has submitted an application to the Winnipeg School Division to change the school's name.

The school, along with surrounding neighborhoods, is named after Colonel Garnet Wolseley, whose role in the Red River Rebellion of 1870 has come under fire from Indigenous peoples in recent years.

According to a biography on the school's website, Garnet Wolseley was the commander of the forces sent to suppress the Red River Rebellion led by Louis Riel.

In 2021, the Red River Echoes called for the Wolseley neighborhood to be renamed, saying Wolseley was a general who “incited genocide against the Métis people here.”

“These are our community schools and they represent our communities now,” said Tamara Kuly, chair of the Winnipeg School Division's board of trustees. “If they're named in a way that hurts or offends members of our community, there should be room to change that name to make the current community look good.”

On Monday, trustees adopted a policy to change the names of schools and special-purpose areas. It allows the community to request a review if the school's name does not align with the department's values ​​of inclusiveness, diversity, harmony and respect for the rights and human dignity of others.

Kuli said that the request will be directed to the discussion with the community about the possibility of changing the name of the school.

The decision to completely change the school's name comes at a cost.

“The best-case scenario, the cheapest, would be $43,000,” said Hollis Zhang, WSD's board treasurer. “The worst case scenario would be $181,000.”

Cooley said the average cost is about $100,000, with the cost varying depending on the size of the school. The money will be used for signs, gym flooring and jerseys.

Kuli said the board will go to the community board about the possibility of changing the school's name.