Ottawa school named after Julie Payette gets new name
An Ottawa school named after former governor general Julie Payette is getting a new name.
École élémentaire publique Julie-Payette in Kanata is being renamed école élémentaire publique Grande-Ourse, Ottawa's French public school board announced Monday.
"This name is in line with the continuation of the mission of our school, which will continue to attach particular importance to science, technology, sports and the arts," the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario said in a news release in French.
The change will take effect as of the next school year.
Payette resigned as governor general in January 2021 after an independent workplace review found she had presided over a toxic work environment at Rideau Hall.
That summer, the school board voted to rename the school because the allegations against her could have a negative effect on the school's reputation.
Two-third of parents and staff surveyed at the time were in favour of renaming the school.
The board then struck a working group to come up with a name, which included a survey of the school community earlier this year.
The Grande-Ourse name, which translates to the Big Dipper, fits the school well for several reasons, the board said.
According to some Indigenous peoples, the Big Dipper's position in the sky marks the beginning of autumn. That's also around the start time of the school year, the board said.
The school is also on unceded land of the Anishinaabe people, who are represented by the bear.
The school's new logo will be unveiled in the coming months.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Princess Anne to take part in B.C. ceremony bringing new ship into Pacific fleet
Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
NEW Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded west of Vancouver Island
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was reported west of Vancouver Island Thursday evening.
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Feds giving Toronto more than $104M to host 2026 FIFA World Cup
The federal government will provide Toronto just over $104 million in funding to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Police move in to clear NYU encampment, U.S. campus arrests grow to 2,200 in pro-Palestinian protests
Police moved in to clear an encampment at New York University on Friday at the request of school officials, a move that follows weeks of pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses nationwide that have resulted in nearly 2,200 arrests by police.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'