Winnipeg School Division (WSD) is moving ahead with plans to rename Wolseley School, cutting ties to the British colonial general it is named after.
Built on Clifton St. in 1921, the school honours Colonial Garnet J. Wolseley, who led the 1870 Red River Expedition aimed at suppressing Louis Riel and the Metis.
It hosts students in kindergarten through Grade 6.
Chief Superintendent and CEO Matt Henderson says the division launched a public survey to gather suggestions, hoping to finalize the new name within the year.
“We don’t want to rush the process,” Henderson told CBC Manitoba, adding that a decision might come this spring.
If not, it could be pushed to the fall.
Community voices have played a key role since a petition circulated five years ago calling for the change.
More recently, Wolseley’s parent advisory council revived those efforts, requesting a formal review.
Henderson points out that over 155 submissions have arrived so far.
In 2022, WSD renamed Cecil Rhodes School to Keewatin Prairie Community School, distancing itself from another controversial colonial figure.
Rhodes held racist beliefs and championed settler expansion, which led to policies that paved the way for an “indigenous apartheid.”
Henderson says the Wolseley School process includes a Metis learning series and classroom discussions on historical context.
Students are asked to make ethical judgments about who should be honoured.
“We want people to think deeply about names and not take them for granted,” said Henderson.
After submissions close on April 7, the renaming committee will narrow the list to three finalists for broader consultation.
Trustees will then choose two for final consideration.
Henderson emphasizes that renaming any school should involve community dialogue, ensuring the decision reflects shared values and lessons learned from history.