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Jean Vanier renamed Our Lady of the Bay Catholic High School

Though the name was the preferred choice in a school-wide vote, it took a protest and several meetings to get it to this point
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Grade 12 students took on an extra project in their graduating year, which included public demonstrations calling for the school board to approve Our Lady of the Bay as the new name for Collingwood's Catholic High School. Erika Engel/CollingwoodToday

Collingwood's Catholic high school will be named Our Lady of the Bay Catholic High School after all. 

The school was formerly named after Jean Vanier, but after his death a report from L'Arche international revealed evidence he assaulted at least six women over the course of several decades. 

As a result, the Simcoe Muskoka District School Board decided in February the name of the school would be changed. 

A task force was charged with coming up with a new name, and a survey of students, staff and families showed a majority of support for Our Lady of the Bay. 

However, once the name was put to school board trustees it was voted down. A group of students and parents organized a protest and the debate at the trustee table escalated to shouting and table pounding. Finally, trustees agreed to stay out of the process and leave it in the hands of the director of education.

“I am so incredibly pleased that this school now has a new name so that they may continue the healing process and build a new identity, while still honouring the tremendous accomplishments of all students, staff, and families who have been involved with this strong, faith-filled Catholic school since it opened,” said Brian Beal, Director of Education.

Board chair Joe Zerdin was also supportive of the name choice, stating it was significant for the Collingwood and the Catholic community.

“Our Lady of the Bay has great meaning for the Catholic community in Collingwood - the name honours Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and pays tribute to the significance of the bay in the Collingwood community,” said Zerdin, in a press release from the school board. “It honours First Nations peoples and the immense ecological significance of Georgian Bay both historically and today. It also makes a meaningful connection with St. Mary’s Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School.”


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Erika Engel

About the Author: Erika Engel

Erika regularly covers all things news in Collingwood as a reporter and editor. She has 15 years of experience as a local journalist
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