Since the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) meeting on February 20 when Kingsville was informed that the new K-12 school would be named a name that shall not be mentioned, the matter has been widely debated on several fronts.

Last Friday, there was the student walk out at KDHS that, in spite of earlier inclement weather, saw a large number of students and citizens marching together to protest the new name which they felt was unilaterally chosen outside of the agreed selection process.

Additionally, social media sites have been buzzing and petitions have been circulating, all with a large number of residents weighing in and speaking out against the apparent scuttling of the democratic naming process by the school board.

On Saturday, Member of Provincial Parliament, Anthony Leardi, sent an official letter to the school board to ask them to reconsider their decision.  His comments outlined alleged flaws that he identified with the application of the naming criteria.  According to him, the name, that was not one of the more than 600 public submissions received by the naming committee, “means nothing to no one.”  Click here to read MPP Leardi’s full letter.

School Board Trustee Julia Burgess wasted no time in penning her response.  In a six page rambling missive, she asked the MPP to rescind his comments publicly.  Leardi’s office confirmed that it received the letter yesterday morning on February 26.  Click here to read Trustee Burgess’ full letter.

In a show of force, the KDHS student body announced another protest planned for this Friday March 1.  The community is being asked to come out and, once again, support their march.

And, at last night’s Town Council meeting, the Mayor cautiously entered the fray, confirming his support of the efforts that have been staged by the students in asserting their voice in this dispute.  Kingsville citizen reporter, Les McDonald, summed it all up nicely when he asked the question: What’s In A Name?  Watch his video by clicking the image below.