Sir Isaac Brock Elementary School will be reopen as an adult learning centre in September, but whether it will still bear the name of the fallen War of 1812 hero is in doubt.
New policy puts Sir Isaac Brock school name in crosshairs
Trustee questions if revamped building can still honour War of 1812 hero
Former elementary school will be converted into an adult learning centre by September, but whether it can still bear the name of the fallen War of 1812 hero is in doubt
Sir Isaac Brock Elementary School will be reopen as an adult learning centre in September, but whether it will still bear the name of the fallen War of 1812 hero is in doubt.
Stoney Creek’s closed Sir Isaac Brock Elementary School will be converted into an adult learning centre by September, but whether it can still bear the name of the fallen War of 1812 hero is in doubt.
Trustee Todd White, who represents the area, said keeping the Brock moniker, as suggested by staff, may conflict with a new policy barring new or reopened schools to be named after people.
He said Brock school’s status falls into a grey area because it will become a learning centre, but trustees should decide whether the name meets the spirit of the policy, which he opposed when it passed last April by an 8-2 vote.
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“It should go to the board for discussion, even if the decision is to do nothing and retain the name,” White said, adding he’s fine with keeping the Brock name given the school’s proximity to where the June 6, 1813, Battle of Stoney Creek was fought.
Brock died during the Oct. 13, 1812, Battle of Queenston Heights while leading British troops defending then-Upper Canada from American invaders.
“I think there could be some good benefits in retaining that name but it’ll be up to the board,” White said. “I’d be interested to hear what community members have to say.”
The issue of the Greenford Drive school’s name arose as trustees belatedly but unanimously approved a staff plan to convert the building into an adult learning centre at their Jan. 23 finance and facilities committee meeting.
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A contract tender for required accessibility, heating, ventilation and other upgrades, budgeted at $1.5 million, closed on Dec. 19 despite having no formal board approval, although trustees had been apprised of the plan in private sessions.
Senior facilities manager David Anderson told trustees that Brock will replace the CCE Parkway Learning Centre on Centennial Parkway North, which is just under 5,000 square feet and set to have its lease expire in September.
He said the relocated centre will be able to expand its newcomer English-language programs and child-minding services, but use less than half of Brock’s 35,000 square feet, leaving room for potential community partners to move there.
Trustee Becky Buck suggested Brock might also house other board programs but praised the relocation of the learning centre as a responsible use “that helps address a very specific need in our city.”
Like White, though, she said she believes Brock is captured by the board’s new school naming policy, which covers the naming of a building in whole or part.
“We’ll need to be sure of what that process is in terms of renaming and if the name Sir Isaac Brock can endure or even should,” said Buck, who supported the new naming policy.
“I think that’s something that trustees would like to see come back, just so we’re aware what process staff would like to follow or recommend.”
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