What Should Kingston’s New School Be Named?
This past fall, construction began on Kingston’s newest high school, located on the former Queen Elizabeth Collegiate & Vocational Institute (QEVCI) property on Kirkpatrick Street. The 171,000 square-foot facility will accommodate 1,340 students, (240 intermediate students and 1,000 secondary students) and includes the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, and intermediate and secondary extended French and French Immersion (Module Vanier). The 43 classrooms will include space for specialty subjects, with multi-use space for courses such as science, music, art, theatre, technology and communications, and culinary arts. The new school is expected to be complete for the 2019-2020 school year.
Now, The Limestone District School Board and the New School Integration Committee, which consists of students, staff and families affected by the amalgamation, are appealing to the Kingston community to help name the new facility. The board was given over 600 suggested names in a previous poll in the fall and is now running an online survey asking residents to vote for their top four choices from a list that has been narrowed down to nine. The survey also allows participants to suggest an alternate name that isn’t on the list.
The LDSB has set forth a reminder that the new name should fit the following criteria:
- Represent names of famous Canadians of local or national recognition, and other names that reflect the positive image of our community and of the Limestone District School Board
- Not duplicate the name of an existing school building or site within the Limestone District School Board
- Not use the names of present Board members and staff members; or other living persons
While the survey is not anonymous, it is private and we’re curious to know how people are voting so far. Considering the above criteria (and knowing this is NOT the official survey), this week we want you to tell us:
What are your TOP TWO choices for the name of Kingston's new secondary school?
- Kingston-related: Kingston, Kingston Central, Kingston Composite (36%, 459 Votes)
- Gord Downie (29%, 376 Votes)
- QE related: Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth Collegiate, Queen Elizabeth Collegiate Institute, Queen Elizabeth Collegiate & Vocational Institute, Kingston Queen Elizabeth (16%, 212 Votes)
- KC-related: Kingston Collegiate, Kingston Collegiate Institute or Kingston Collegiate & Vocational Institute (9%, 118 Votes)
- Something else. I'll tell you in the comments. (2%, 32 Votes)
- First Capital (2%, 22 Votes)
- Terry Fox (2%, 21 Votes)
- Viola Desmond (1%, 17 Votes)
- Kingscourt (1%, 15 Votes)
- Reconciliation-related: Kingston Reconciliation, Hope, Concord, Namwayut (1%, 13 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,285
Loading ...What criteria are you using to determine which name you think is best? Should this new school’s name represent an historical figure or is it more important to give it a name that conveys its location and history within our community? Remember, this is NOT the official survey. Have your voice heard by heading over to the LDSB’s survey and taking 2 minutes to fill it out. The survey will be available until Friday, February 9th 2018.
Photo credit to the Limestone District School Board.