A Catholic school in Regina has been given a new name.
On Wednesday, the Regina Catholic School Division (RCSD) has announced Jean Vanier School, which specializes in educating students with intensive needs, will now be known as St. Maria Faustina School.
Jean Vanier, a Canadian Catholic philosopher who passed away in May 2019 in Paris, was known for his work in helping people with developmental disabilities including the creation of his organization L’Arche. The name change comes after an internal report from February 2020 found he had sexually abused six women in France between 1970 and 2005.
Following the investigation, some school divisions in Canada who have schools named after Vanier are considering changing the names to something else. Regina Catholic and staff decided a name change was the appropriate avenue.
Bob Kowalchuk, board chair for RCSD, said during the official unveiling on Thursday that it’s about ensuring they are building on what their new community will be moving forward.
“Sometimes you need to acknowledge that the past and past things were not very good, you need to move on from it and say it’s no longer appropriate,” said Kowalchuk. “I think every school division really has to take a good look at what their heritage on their names are and decide which of those need to be addressed.”
St. Maria Faustina School Principal Lesley Perrault during Thursday’s announcement. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
It was a lengthy process to find a new name for the former Jean Vanier School. Principal Lesley Perrault said the division entered into a consultation phase that drew engagement from families, staff and the community.
Perrault believes there were 76 total submissions with 39 names, which was eventually narrowed down to eight names by the school board.
“We believe the impact will have a positive effect on everyone that is connected within our school division, our staff and our students,” said Perrault. “We wanted to have a new start and a fresh beginning and an opportunity to promote that positivity.”
The school board chose St. Maria Faustina who is known as the Patron Saint of Mercy, which Kowalchuk suggested “mercy is something we all need.” The school will stay with the team moniker Heroes, however staff will consult with the school community again to see if it will stand with the school’s new name.
