Sir John A. Macdonald School Name Review

The CBE Board of Trustees Name Review Committee for Sir John A. Macdonald School is gathering perspectives on keeping or changing the name of the school, in accordance with the Committee's Terms of Reference.

Active engagement will take place in October 2024. During this time, all Calgarians will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on keeping or changing the school name through an online survey. There will be additional opportunities provided to the students, staff and families of Sir John A. Macdonald School and its feeder schools (Alex Munro, Beddington Heights, Catherine Nichols Gunn, Huntington Hills, John G. Diefenbaker, Thorncliffe). Calgarians of Indigenous and Chinese ancestry will have additional opportunities to share their perspectives.

To allow the Calgary community to participate in an informed and meaningful way, the Name Review Committee commissioned historical timelines. In sharing these timelines, participants gain an understanding of who Sir John A. Macdonald was and the legacy of his life and work. The Committee is sharing two historical timelines with the public for review and consideration in sharing their perspectives. People are welcome to review and consider additional information about Sir John A. Macdonald.

The input gathered through this engagement process will help inform the Committee’s recommendation to the Board of Trustees. By January 2025, the Committee will recommend to the Board of Trustees that the name be kept or changed. The Board of Trustees will then review the recommendation and determine next steps. Decisions about school names are the responsibility of the Board of Trustees.

More information about this engagement process and Sir John A. Macdonald is available on the right-hand side of this page and below.

Executive Summary of Historical Timeline by Dr. Kevin Anderson [link to CBE web page]

Executive Summary of Historical Timeline by Dr. Carla Peck, Dr. Liza Piper and Sarah Clifford [link to CBE web page]