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Macdonald's name from schoolThey reasoned the name change was necessary because Canada's first prime minister had a role in founding the residential school systemLast updated 2 hours ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. His name was removed from a high school in Waterloo, Ontario by the public school board. The decision cost $175K, a student discovered after filing a freedom of information request. (File photo) ALLA student is raising questions about the Waterloo Region District School Board’s decision to spend $175,000 to rename a high school in Waterloo, Ont.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorGrade 10 student Ishan Acharya’s inquiry stems from a vote by the board trustees in 2021 to rename Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School. The reason cited for the decision was that Canada’s first prime minister had a founding role in the residential school system.The board’s director of education, Scott Miller says the decision was “part of our ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.”In an email to National Post, Miller cites an October 2020 decision by the trustees to review the names of all schools and board facilities and “identify any with racist or harmful associations” in line with the Ontario and Canadian Human Rights Codes. The school was officially renamed Laurel Heights Secondary School in 2022.The decision preceded a 2025 change made by the Ontario government to update legislation and require approval from the Minister of Education when renaming a school, as previously reported by National Post. Plans for three schools in Toronto were abandoned afterwards.Grade 10 student Ishan Acharya discovered the renaming cost after he filed a freedom of information request with the board. He was given a list of expenses, totalling $195,105.86, or $176,466.50 net with an HST rebate.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“It just appalled me,” Acharya told CTV News. “I don’t know who decided to spend this much money when students (are) struggling.”The majority of the expenses were for renamed sports uniforms and equipment.Miller said the decision to rename the school “followed extensive engagement with students, parents, staff, Indigenous communities and the broader community. We heard clearly from many members of the community that the previous name did not reflect the inclusive and welcoming learning environments we strive to create for all students.”Regarding the cost, Miller said, the costs “were anticipated as part of the process.”Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. 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