GUELPH – The Upper Grand District School Board has announced the name of the new elementary school opening in Fergus in September.
At a May 27 board meeting, “Grand River Public School” was approved as the name for the new school.
“Throughout the naming process, the board followed UGDSB Policy 303, which includes meaningful consultation with students, staff, parents/guardians/caregivers, and members of the community,” officials state.
As part of that process, a committee was formed and created an online survey to gather community input on proposed names.
The new school naming committee included trustee Irene Hanenberg, superintendent Belal Taha, and the principal and a parent from the new school.
More than 500 students, parents/guardians and staff contributed to the survey, submitting names and rating other names that came forward.
The survey results were reviewed and the shortlist of names was shared with the Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility Office and the First Nations Métis Inuit Education Council to ensure that the proposed names reflect the board’s commitment to equity, inclusivity and human rights.
Community members were then invited to a virtual town hall to rank their favourite options from the shortlist of proposed names.
Grand River Public School was one of the top recommendations brought forward through the public consultation process.
Policy 303 encourages names that reflect the geography, history or cultural diversity of the community and that inspire pride and connection.
The Grand River flows through many regions in the Upper Grand District School Board, as was the inspiration for the board’s name as well.
During a school board meeting on May 27, trustee Katherine Hauser noted that trustee Jen Edwards, who was not present, wanted to express appreciation that the committee “chose a name from nature,” and thanked Taha “for all the great consultation work.”
Hanenberg said many people participated in the process and thanked everyone.
“I do know that there are some concerns that the name is similar to some other schools, however the naming process followed all of our policies and we are correct in naming it Grand River Public School, she said.
“The Fergus area is situated on the tract of land that was granted to the Six Nations of the Grand River and so Grand River is in the name.”
The new school is located on Kirvan Street and Elliott Avenue East in the Storybrook subdivision in Fergus.
The school is on track to welcome students in September as planned, and a verbal construction update was shared during a finance and facilities committee meeting on May 13.
At that point work had already began on the school’s interior, including painting, and sod was set to be placed “soon” to ensure the grass was in place and growing before early September.
The above photo showing construction progress was taken on May 27.
Construction is well underway and Grand River Public School in Fergus is on track to open in September. Photo by Robin George
