Dear Editor,
Re: “Stevestonite suggests renaming school to reflect local history,” News, Dec. 23.
I urge the school board and other citizens with a say in the matter to not change the name of Lord Byng elementary.
As much as we care to commemorate the past, and our numerous heroes, both big and small, I do not see the logic in “dis-commemorating” a hero like Julian Byng in order to replace him with a local hero who was a beloved teacher who, I have no doubt, was treated unjustly during WWII.
Byng, the 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy, was a British Army officer who acted as Governor General of Canada, and is widely regarded as the commander who “transformed Canadians into a well-trained and effective striking force,” winning a spectacular victory at Vimy Ridge in 1917.
The capturing of Vimy Ridge was crucial to our eventual success in the First World War.
I think it fitting that we keep the name of Lord Byng elementary as is, considering that it was people like Byng who fought and risked life and limb in order to purchase the freedoms that every citizen of Canada (regardless of cultural background) is able to enjoy today.
Mr. Higo assures us that his desire to rename the school isn’t due to “wokeness,” but it is absolutely just in that it seeks to “make right” an injustice of the past and keep people alert to the tragedies associated with WWII and how it impacted our Japanese-Canadian friends and neighbours on the home front.
Further, Mr. Higo himself talks about “historical prejudices” in his statements, saying that because Canadians are sensitive to said prejudices, that renaming the school will help us to “overcome some of these things.”
Sadly, he doesn’t give any details as to how.
As harrowing as the plight of Hide Hyodo was, and as deserving as she is of being commemorated, my feeling is that we do not replace our regard for one Canadian hero with another, especially in the interest of social justice, which is precisely what this is all about.
Lisette Eckers
RICHMOND
