EDITORIAL – Shortlist of names for new Pineview school anything but inspiring

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger

I AM NOT INSPIRED by the finalists in the name-the-school poll.

Out of 131 suggestions for a name for the new Pineview Valley elementary school, a School District 73 committee has chosen five for public consideration. They are:

Copperhead elementary.

Pineview Valley elementary.

S7etqwllp Elementary – Ponderosa Pine elementary (Seh-et-qwllp).

Sníne Elementary – Owls elementary (Sneena).

Spelq̓wéqs Elementary – Turtles elementary (Spel-qweqs).

The fact that three of the five are Secwe̓pemc language names might be accounted for by the fact that “Indigenous rights holders, who are part of the committee, shared about the land, history, stories, and elders’ teachings as connected to the territory of the Secwépemc Nation, specifically the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc People, where the school will be located.”

Those members were allowed to submit names in addition to what was received from the public. I’d suggest the chances are pretty good that one of the three Secwe̓pemc names will be the winner. For one thing, Copperhead elementary and Pineview Valley elementary are just boring.

Not to mention, a copperhead is a species of venomous snake, even though it’s also the name of the street on which the school will be located. Pineview Valley elementary does identify the location as well but, well, yawn. One ArmchairMayor.ca commenter pointed out there are a lot more fir trees in the area than pines.

As  for the rest: a pine tree, an owl, a turtle? Surely they could have done better. After my editorial suggesting that the new school be named after a person, some interesting ideas came in. For the indigenous connection, someone proposed Len Marchand Sr. elementary. Len, of course, was the country’s first indigenous federal cabinet minister and a senator to boot.

Another idea was Gordon Gore elementary, after the late beloved educator and avid photographer who did so much for kids in the district.

Another proposal was Kenna Cartwright elementary, though Kenna was a mayor rather than an educator. And I even got a message proposing Alexei Navalny elementary, which seemed a non-starter at first but, upon reflection, would have been a forever reminder and statement of our commitment to free speech and democracy not just here at home but internationally.

Of all of them, though, I really liked Len Marchand Sr. elementary. It would have been an appropriate way of honouring that great man and recognizing our indigenous connections. And a name easy to remember.

A form is available on the SD73 website until April 2. Maybe it’s not too late for a write-in ballot.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.