DEA looks to rename Fort Simpson schools
Education council puts out call for submissions
for Bompas, Thomas Simpson name change
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, February 9, 2017
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
This could be the last year Bompas Elementary School and Thomas Simpson Secondary School are known by those names, if a proposal from Fort Simpson's district education authority finds support from community members.
Thomas Simpson Secondary School is one of two schools in Fort Simpson that may have a name change this year. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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In early February, the education authority put out a call to community members for suggestions in a hunt for new names.
Katherine Dempsey, the vice-chair of the education authority, said the move was prompted by a community member who brought the issue forward to the council in November.
"We had a discussion about it. This has been an issue that has been brought up in the past, as well - it isn't the first time a name change in the schools has been put on the table," Dempsey said.
"Some community members feel very strongly about this, so we want to get it done."
The education authority will be taking name submissions until Feb. 17. Submissions must include a rationale behind the suggested name change in order to be considered, Dempsey said.
From there, the education authority will narrow down a list of possible names and then put it out to the community for a vote.
"Whatever the popular vote is, the (district education authority) will make a motion for that to go through, and then we have to submit it to the (Dehcho Divisional Education Council)," Dempsey explained.
She added the education authority doesn't expect there will be any costs associated with the proposal until the name is actually changed. Once that happens, the schools will need to change their letterheads, websites and everything else that bears their current names.
Current names tied to colonialist history
Jodie Isaiah, Thomas Simpson Secondary School's secretary, said both of the schools' names have roots in colonial and residential school history.
Thomas Simpson Secondary School was named after an explorer who never actually set foot in Fort Simpson, she said, while Bompas Elementary School was named after the wife of an Anglican bishop.
"I would think that, being as we are trying to get residential school out, Bompas' (name) should definitely be changed," she said.
Dempsey said the name changes could be finalized by the end of the school term, if all goes well.
"I think once people understand a bit better as to why some community members want this done, maybe they'll be (all) for it," she said.
