CORNWALL, Ontario – Efforts to find a name for Cornwall’s newest school at the corner of Marleau Avenue and Nick Kaneb Drive are underway.
The Upper Canada District School Board naming committee hosted an open meeting in the St. Lawrence Secondary School library to discuss options on Thursday evening (October 22).
“We really need to find a name that is meaningful to our community,” said East Front Public School principal Kelty Grant.
UCDSB superintendent Tim Mills says the group hopes to have a name to take forward at December’s board meeting, the final of three fousing on
The new 579-pupil school, which will replace East Front Public School and Gladstone Public School, is scheduled to be completed for the beginning of the 2016 academic year.
‘Cornwall’s Little Historian’ Sara Lauzon nominated naming the facility after Judge Jacob Farrand Pringle. In addition to being a former Cornwall mayor (1855-56), Lauzon described him as the city’s first historian.
“He cared a lot about his community and his family went on to be on MPs. It’s a very common and special name to Cornwall. I figured we could honour it,” said Lauzon.
Former Liberal MPP and longtime school teacher Jim Brownell suggested naming it after Sir John Johnson.
“In Cornwall, we have no recognition of the community’s founding father, no public building or street named after him,” said Brownell.
East Front teacher Paula McCallum suggested ‘Bridgewood.’
The name highlights the local signifigance of the former north-span international bridge, linking Cornwall to Akwesasne, McCallum’s time spent travelling across it to Potsdam University where she trained to be a teacher, as well as ‘bridging education’ with the past and future. ‘Wood’ recognizes the woodlot surrounding the school property.
The list of potential titles, inspired by local historical places and political leaders, also included: Seaway Elementary, East-Gladstone, Trillium Elementary, Bridgeway, BridgeWater, Bridge Harbour, Green Bridge, Stepping Stones, Woodlands, Lynwood Forest Elementary, Sir John A. MacDonald, John Strachan, Dave Ezard Memorial & Elementary, John Sandfield Macdonald, and Michaëlle Jean.
With over 50,000 square feet, the building will be air conditioned and feature five kindergarten classrooms, 19 regular classrooms, a multi-function resource space with a stage, project/resource rooms adjacent to classrooms. Several of the classrooms will have moveable walls to create extra space when needed.
Located on the south east corner of Nick Kaneb Drive and Marleau Avenue, the building and site have been planned with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDS) in mind, with the goal of receiving a Silver LEEDS certification. The design focuses on tree conservation.
For more information or to suggest a name, email kelty.grant@ucdsb.on.ca or visit www.ucdsb.on.ca or join www.facebook.com/CEC.Cornwall.School.UCDSB.
