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Winnipeg Free Press
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Street names and recognizing public figures
Opinion 'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,' William Shakespeare famously wrote in his play, Romeo and Juliet. The problem is, sometimes the bloom falls off the rose, and other times, the smell becomes something that isn't sweet at all. A year ago, Bishop Grandin Boulevard was renamed Abinojii Mikanah, a name that translates to 'children's way' in Anishinaabemowin. Bishop Grandin Trail became Awasisak Meskanôw — 'the children's road' in Ininimowin, or Cree, and Grandin Street, which runs from Taché Avenue to St. Joseph Street in St. Boniface became Taapweewin, which means 'truth' in Michif. Russell Wangersky / Free Press A street sign for Wolseley Avenue The name changes all came because of the recognition of the extent of Bishop Vital Grandin's troubling role in establishing residential schools. With that change in mind, it may well be a reckoning is coming for Wolseley the school, Wolseley the avenue, and maybe even Wolseley the neighbourhood — to cite just one other troubling name from the past. Wolseley School's parent council has looked at the possibility of changing the school's name, and the Winnipeg School Division has collected feedback on the idea, because the school is named after Col. Garnet Wolseley, who led a campaign of repression against Manitoba Métis. (Interestingly, the Manitoba Métis Federation has argued the name should stay, arguing that renaming landmarks and removing statues is a way of erasing a history of wrongdoing.) But one thing has arisen out of the renaming process that should also be considered by the city going forward. The WSD set renaming criteria for the Wolseley school that said prospective names 'should represent the neighbourhood and community; should connect to learning for the students' and 'must avoid the names of people.' The last one is an idea whose time may have come — avoiding the names of people. Because, more than anything else, people are complicated. Right now, the City of Winnipeg website devotes more than 300 words to explaining how it chooses to name a street after a person, saying that it wants 'to honour and commemorate noteworthy people associated with the city of Winnipeg.' That includes 'a person who demonstrates excellence, courage or exceptional dedication to service in ways that bring special credit to the city of Winnipeg; a person who volunteers and gives extraordinary help or care to individuals, families or groups, or supports community services or humanitarian causes; a person who fosters equality and reduces discrimination' and even 'an early pioneer or group or settlers who have contributed to the development of the city.' The city is so keen on naming streets after worthy Winnipeggers that the $200 fee for adding a name to the suggested street name reserve list is waived 'for applications recognizing individuals.' But maybe streets shouldn't be named after people at all, because history is a long road, and our viewpoints — and our knowledge about the character and behaviour of people who may seem like great examples today — can change with the years and with new knowledge. We've certainly seen that here. It's been recognized in other places as well. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. St. John's, the capital of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, has taken the approach of changing its street naming policy this month to exclude naming streets after individuals. Simply put, it can be fraught with difficulties. 'Naming streets after people carries a number of risks,' St. John's Coun. Ron Ellsworth said during a June 17 council meeting, including ' problematic legacies, political polarization, disparity in representation and cultural marginalization.' The council vote in St. John's was unanimous, following the advice of the city's legal staff and the advice of the city's senior management. Maybe it's not an approach that will garner much support from Winnipeg's council. But maybe it's an idea whose time has come.
CBC
19-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Educational support workers in Winnipeg School Division give strike mandate to union
Support workers in the Winnipeg School Division have given their union bargaining committee a strike mandate. The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union represents about 1,800 educational assistants, clerks and other support workers, such as library techs, crossing guards, dispatchers, computer techs and food co-ordinators. They've been without a contract since July 1, 2024. Voting to support a strike took place from June 16-18 but there is no plan yet to hit the picket lines, a union spokesperson said, adding the bargaining committee will continue its work during the summer. The vote follows a recent member survey which showed growing dissatisfaction, with many saying they have considered leaving their job in the past year for better wages elsewhere as the cost of living keeps rising, a news release from MGEU said. Other school divisions pay support workers more, which puts the Winnipeg School Division at risk of losing staff, MGEU president Kyle Ross said in the release.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Winnipeg School Division honours Indigenous graduates in the city and beyond
Parker Ledoux, 17 from Creighton, Sask. who graduating from Creighton Community School, poses for a portrait in Winnipeg on Monday, June 16, 2025 at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre as part of a special celebration put on by the Winnipeg School Division to honour 2025 Indigenous graduates, as well as graduates from northern Manitoba communities who have been evacuated due to ongoing wildfires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski WINNIPEG — Parker Ledoux never imagined spending the last month of her Grade 12 school year cooped up in a Winnipeg hotel room far from her home. But when an out-of-control wildfire encroached on Creighton, Sask., at the end of last month and forced its some 1,200 people to flee, that's exactly what happened. With graduation celebrations supposed to take place next week and community members still displaced, Ledoux is not sure what the quintessential teenage experience will look like for her and her classmates. The Winnipeg School Division recognized the uncertainty high school evacuees may be facing and opened up its own ceremony honouring Indigenous graduates to students forced out of their homes by the wildfires. 'I am so grateful to be here today,' said Ledoux, a Red River Métis citizen. 'Just the opportunity to do something ... I'm grateful that they thought of us evacuees.' The school division was to host its annual outdoor powwow last week, but had to postpone it due to wildfire smoke from the north impacting air quality in the province's capital. The division decided to host a smaller, scaled-back version Monday with a grand entry, drumming and singing honour songs and speeches. Officials saw the new event as an opportunity to also recognize the resilience, dedication and achievements of students beyond the school division. 'Welcoming these evacuated students is our way of honouring their hard work, extending our community and showing them that we care,' said Rob Riel, assistant superintendent of Indigenous Education, in a statement. After Creighton residents were ordered to leave, classes at the local high school were cancelled. Ledoux is hoping for a postponed graduation ceremony for her and her 40 some classmates. The 17-year-old was named valedictorian and was looking forward to reading the speech she prepared three months ago. 'It's something you look forward to growing up,' she said. 'You (make) it to Grade 12, and then last month of school, and all of the sudden, everyone had to go.' The teen considers herself one of the lucky ones. Some of her classmates who live in nearby Denare Beach lost their homes when the blaze ripped through the small village. Infernos in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba forced tens of thousands from their homes. Recent rain and cooler temperatures have allowed some to return. In Manitoba, the roughly 2,300 people who call Tataskweyak Cree Nation home are still displaced. Keanu Kirkness, 18, has been staying with relatives in Winnipeg for two weeks. Graduation celebrations are scheduled to take place at the end of the month. Whether that happens remains to be seen. 'We were just going to do it in our school gym,' said Kirkness. 'I don't think we're going to do that.' Kirkness's principal encouraged him and some of his classmates to attend Monday's event on the chance that they can share their stories with other graduates. Coming from an isolated, close-knit community, Kirkness said he finds the city and large-scale events crowded but a good opportunity to meet new people. 'I'm feeling alright knowing that I can try to talk to somebody — just to try to get out of my bubble.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025. Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
Toronto Star
17-06-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
Winnipeg School Division honours Indigenous graduates in the city and beyond
WINNIPEG - Parker Ledoux never imagined spending the last month of her Grade 12 school year cooped up in a Winnipeg hotel room far from her home. But when an out-of-control wildfire encroached on Creighton, Sask., at the end of last month and forced its some 1,200 people to flee, that's exactly what happened. With graduation celebrations supposed to take place next week and community members still displaced, Ledoux is not sure what the quintessential teenage experience will look like for her and her classmates. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The Winnipeg School Division recognized the uncertainty high school evacuees may be facing and opened up its own ceremony honouring Indigenous graduates to students forced out of their homes by the wildfires. 'I am so grateful to be here today,' said Ledoux, a Red River Métis citizen. 'Just the opportunity to do something ... I'm grateful that they thought of us evacuees.' The school division was to host its annual outdoor powwow last week, but had to postpone it due to wildfire smoke from the north impacting air quality in the province's capital. The division decided to host a smaller, scaled-back version Monday with a grand entry, drumming and singing honour songs and speeches. Officials saw the new event as an opportunity to also recognize the resilience, dedication and achievements of students beyond the school division. 'Welcoming these evacuated students is our way of honouring their hard work, extending our community and showing them that we care,' said Rob Riel, assistant superintendent of Indigenous Education, in a statement. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW After Creighton residents were ordered to leave, classes at the local high school were cancelled. Ledoux is hoping for a postponed graduation ceremony for her and her 40 some classmates. The 17-year-old was named valedictorian and was looking forward to reading the speech she prepared three months ago. 'It's something you look forward to growing up,' she said. 'You (make) it to Grade 12, and then last month of school, and all of the sudden, everyone had to go.' The teen considers herself one of the lucky ones. Some of her classmates who live in nearby Denare Beach lost their homes when the blaze ripped through the small village. Infernos in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba forced tens of thousands from their homes. Recent rain and cooler temperatures have allowed some to return. In Manitoba, the roughly 2,300 people who call Tataskweyak Cree Nation home are still displaced. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Keanu Kirkness, 18, has been staying with relatives in Winnipeg for two weeks. Graduation celebrations are scheduled to take place at the end of the month. Whether that happens remains to be seen. 'We were just going to do it in our school gym,' said Kirkness. 'I don't think we're going to do that.' Kirkness's principal encouraged him and some of his classmates to attend Monday's event on the chance that they can share their stories with other graduates. Coming from an isolated, close-knit community, Kirkness said he finds the city and large-scale events crowded but a good opportunity to meet new people. 'I'm feeling alright knowing that I can try to talk to somebody — just to try to get out of my bubble.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
17-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Winnipeg School Division honours Indigenous graduates in the city and beyond
WINNIPEG - Parker Ledoux never imagined spending the last month of her Grade 12 school year cooped up in a Winnipeg hotel room far from her home. But when an out-of-control wildfire encroached on Creighton, Sask., at the end of last month and forced its some 1,200 people to flee, that's exactly what happened. With graduation celebrations supposed to take place next week and community members still displaced, Ledoux is not sure what the quintessential teenage experience will look like for her and her classmates. The Winnipeg School Division recognized the uncertainty high school evacuees may be facing and opened up its own ceremony honouring Indigenous graduates to students forced out of their homes by the wildfires. 'I am so grateful to be here today,' said Ledoux, a Red River Métis citizen. 'Just the opportunity to do something ... I'm grateful that they thought of us evacuees.' The school division was to host its annual outdoor powwow last week, but had to postpone it due to wildfire smoke from the north impacting air quality in the province's capital. The division decided to host a smaller, scaled-back version Monday with a grand entry, drumming and singing honour songs and speeches. Officials saw the new event as an opportunity to also recognize the resilience, dedication and achievements of students beyond the school division. 'Welcoming these evacuated students is our way of honouring their hard work, extending our community and showing them that we care,' said Rob Riel, assistant superintendent of Indigenous Education, in a statement. After Creighton residents were ordered to leave, classes at the local high school were cancelled. Ledoux is hoping for a postponed graduation ceremony for her and her 40 some classmates. The 17-year-old was named valedictorian and was looking forward to reading the speech she prepared three months ago. 'It's something you look forward to growing up,' she said. 'You (make) it to Grade 12, and then last month of school, and all of the sudden, everyone had to go.' The teen considers herself one of the lucky ones. Some of her classmates who live in nearby Denare Beach lost their homes when the blaze ripped through the small village. Infernos in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba forced tens of thousands from their homes. Recent rain and cooler temperatures have allowed some to return. In Manitoba, the roughly 2,300 people who call Tataskweyak Cree Nation home are still displaced. Keanu Kirkness, 18, has been staying with relatives in Winnipeg for two weeks. Graduation celebrations are scheduled to take place at the end of the month. Whether that happens remains to be seen. 'We were just going to do it in our school gym,' said Kirkness. 'I don't think we're going to do that.' Kirkness's principal encouraged him and some of his classmates to attend Monday's event on the chance that they can share their stories with other graduates. Coming from an isolated, close-knit community, Kirkness said he finds the city and large-scale events crowded but a good opportunity to meet new people. 'I'm feeling alright knowing that I can try to talk to somebody — just to try to get out of my bubble.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
