A new elementary school set to open in August will be named after former Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) announced on Friday.<\/p>\n
Education Minister Paul Calandra said the board\u2019s newest elementary school will be named Brian Mulroney Elementary School, in honour of Canada\u2019s 18th prime minister and his lasting contributions to Canada and the world.<\/p>\n
The school will welcome close to 700 students when it opens and will be the first public school in Canada named after Brian Mulroney.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrian Mulroney was one of the most consequential leaders in modern Canadian history,\u201d said Calandra. \u201cHe strengthened Canada\u2019s economy, championed the French language and francophone communities, led on the environment as the greenest prime minister in Canadian history, and earned international respect for his leadership on human rights and the fight against apartheid.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is fitting that a new generation of students will learn in a school that bears his name, and I hope they will be inspired by his commitment to public service and nation-building.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mulroney\u2019s daughter, Caroline Mulroney, who has just stepped down as Ontario\u2019s Treasury Board president and MPP for Ontario\u2019s York-Simcoe riding, said her family is \u201cdeeply honoured\u201d by the naming of the school.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are grateful that future generations of students will carry this legacy as they learn and grow within its walls,\u201d she said in a social media post.<\/p>\n
The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney served as prime minister from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993, and passed away on February 29, 2024.<\/p>\n
Caroline Mulroney said in a letter to constituents that her father\u2019s death two years ago, as well as her four grown children leaving home, were major factors in her decision to leave Ontario\u2019s legislature.<\/p>\n
She said in the letter: \u201cTwo years ago, I lost my father. Last year, my husband Andrew and I became empty nesters. These are the kinds of moments that clarify what matters. Together, they have led me to the conclusion that now is the right time to step back from elected life and begin a new chapter, one I am genuinely excited about.\u201d<\/p>\n
The OCDSB has previously named seven schools after Canadian prime ministers and governors general, as well as after Sir Winston Churchill, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth II.<\/p>\n
The school is located in Ottawa\u2019s east urban community near Mer Bleue and serves a growing area with a strong francophone presence.<\/p>\n
In a news release, the OCDSB said the naming of the school recognizes Mulroney\u2019s contributions to Canada, including his support for the French language and francophone communities, his role in advancing free trade and economic growth, his environmental leadership, and his advocacy for human rights on the international stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cTeaching Canadian history is an important element of our curriculum. I hope the students of Brian Mulroney Elementary School and students across the OCDSB district will be inspired to learn more about Canada and the importance of public service,\u201d said OCDSB Supervisor Robert Plamondon.<\/p>\n
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