Dalhousie School, 262 Dalhousie Drive (GOOGLE STREET VIEW)
Pembina Trails School Division has announced the renaming of Dalhousie School to Aniibiminan School.
Aniibiminan (pronounced uh-NEE-bih-mih-nahn) is the Anishinaabemowin word for “summer berries,” and is also the origin of the word “Pembina.”
“This new name reflects our commitment to learning from and honouring Indigenous languages, cultures, and ways of knowing,” said Shelley Amos, superintendent of Pembina Trails School Division.
Dalhousie School was originally named after Dalhousie Drive, the street on which it was built, which itself was named after Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, reflecting a Fort Richmond tradition of naming streets after universities.
A report from Dalhousie University found that Lord Dalhousie held views and enacted policies during his time as governor of Nova Scotia in the 1800s that negatively impacted Black people in Canada. In light of that history, and wanting to better reflect the school’s diverse K-5 community, school and divisional administration sought a more inclusive, locally meaningful name that aligns with the school’s motto, “Our differences make us stronger.”
The new name will be implemented across the school community in the coming months, including updated signage, communications, and materials.
