Toronto public school names are being reviewed to "better reflect" diversity

The names of all 583 Toronto public schools will soon be reviewed, and some potentially changed, to ensure that they better reflect the diversity of the city.

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) announced on April 28 that it will establish a “special group” that will help determine a new naming and renaming process for its schools.

“It’s important that our schools and programs, including the names of schools, reflect the diverse people and communities that we celebrate at the TDSB,” said Alexander Brown, Chair of the TDSB.

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The group will consist of students, parents, educators, and community members, as well as appropriate qualified experts and people who are involved in anti-racism work.

They will be tasked with suggesting changes to the board’s existing naming process and must submit a proposal for a city-wide review of all TDSB school names by the end of June.

“Giving our students and communities a voice that influences and impacts something as significant as the name of the school they attend, offers an invaluable sense of agency,” said Karen Falconer, the TDSB’s Interim Director of Education.

The board said the plan will “improve” the naming and renaming process for schools, and ensure that names better represent the diverse people, cultures, and history of Toronto.

Last month, York Region District School Board (YRDSB) trustees voted to change Vaughan Secondary School to Hodan Nalayeh Secondary School in honour of the late Somali-Canadian journalist.