new elementary school to be named after brian mulroney, contrary to ocdsb policy
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former prime minister brian mulroney during a speech to celebrate his 25th anniversary of his election to his majority government in 2009. the ottawa-carleton district school board plans to name an elementary school after mulroney.
pierre obendrauf
/
the montreal gazette/postmedia network
the newest elementary school at ottawa’s largest school board will be named after conservative prime minister brian mulroney.
the new school near mer bleue in the east end will be the first public school to be named after mulroney, who was prime minister between 1984 and 1993.
“brian mulroney was one of the most consequential leaders in modern canadian history,” said education minister paul calandra in a statement released by the ottawa-carleton district school board.
“he strengthened the canada’s economy, championed the french language and francophone communities, led on the environment as the greatest prime minister in canadian history, and earned international respect for his leadership in human rights and the fight against apartheid. it is fitting that a new generation of students will learn in a school that bears his name, and i hope will be inspired by his commitment to public service and nation-building.”
however, naming a school after mulroney runs contrary to a ocdsb policy introduced in 2021 and updated in 2023. under the policy, names for new schools are recommended by a committee that includes a superintendent, the principal, an indigenous elder and families from the community, based on suggestions received from the public.
under the policy, recommended school names may honour local features, streets, subdivisions, towns and villages or make references of indigenous significance or canadian events or achievements.
proposed names must avoid the names of an individual or family. they also must avoid names of a politically partisan nature.
the ocdsb was placed under provincial supervision last june. the provincially-appointed supervisor is bob plamondon, an auditor and expert on governance who is also the author of books on political history including blue thunder: the truth about conservatives from macdonald to harper in 2009 and freedom fighter: john diefenbaker’s battle for canadian liberties and independence, published last year.
brian mulroney greets supporters at a reception in laval in february 1987.
gordon beck
/
montreal gazette
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mulroney died in 2024. his legacy includes free trade with the united states, the introduction of the unpopular federal gst and privatizing crown corporations, including petro canada and air canada. mulroney has been criticized for failing to bring quebec into the constitutional fold through the failed meech lake and charlottetown accords. but he was lauded for his opposition to apartheid in south africa for environmental polices including the canada-u.s. acid rain accord in 1991.
in a statement, plamondon said teaching canadian history is an important part of the curriculum.
“i hope the students of brian mulroney elementary school and students across the ocdsb will be inspired to learn more about canada and the importance of public service.”
there are a number of ocdsb schools named after people, including seven prime ministers and governors general, sir winston churchill queen elizabeth ii, said the ocdsb.
schools have also been named after astronaut roberta bondar, senator cairine wilson, writer farley mowat, artist ay jackson and john mccrae, who wrote in flanders fields.
these schools were named before the policy was introduced. schools that have opened since the policy was introduced have adhered to the policy. riverside south secondary school was opened in 2025. maplewood secondary school in stittsville was opened in 2024.
elected trustee donna blackburn called the decision to name the new school after mulroney “yet another trumpian move by paul calandra, who has no respect for local democracy and the rules.”
trustees had passed a policy that schools should not be named after individuals, she said.
“in this particular case it’s odd, as brian mulroney has absolutely no connection to the community.”
the school, which has a capacity of almost 700 students, is scheduled to open in august and will be the first public school in canada to be named after mulroney, said the ocdsb.
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