Editor's note: The author writes in response to the Chippewa Secondary School renaming controversy.
As a graduate of the first class that went their entire five years through Chippewa Secondary School (CSS), I do have some stake in the name.
Also, as the son of Henry Montagnes, who was on the secondary school board when CSS was built and named, I do have some insights into the naming.
As well, as someone who has spent well over 50 years working in the social services, including addictions, education and mental health fields; I have some insight there as well.
The secondary school board of the time definitely had political beliefs, but they were usually kept in the background with the main focus being building an
educational system that worked for North Bay. Remember folks in those days, there was no pay for school board members.
I remember the name issue as it particularly affected Algonquin. They were going to call the schools, Chippewa Secondary School (CSS) and Algonquin Secondary
School (ASS). My father recalled frequently how he raised the issue of the initials and how it might play out when Algonquin was playing one of their opponents. So, we had Algonquin Composite School instead.
Chippewa was named in the same manner as the street and creek, as an honour to a cultural Indigenous nation that lived in the North Bay area. Remember folks this was in the late '50s, not in woke time 2023. I can tell you these people put in a lot of personal time to make things right for the staff, students and area and that included all students — Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
I do not know about mascots or cheers, nor would I support any which are disrespectful to any group of people. But the name of the school? Surely, in this day, especially in North Bay, there are enough issues for the school board to be debating and working to improve. My information is anecdotal but I certainly am hearing a lot of stories about the decision to place a homeless shelter so close to Chippewa. Maybe that is education in itself if it is used as such.
If this school board is so set on going against what appears to be a large majority of its voters, maybe it should pass the motion but leave the action until after the
next election. I suspect it will be an issue.
Jim Montagnes
Summer resident in Nipissing
