New Ajax school named after Rosemary Brown

Rosemary Brown

Trustees of the Durham District School Board (DDSB) have selected names for two new DDSB schools in Ajax and Whitby scheduled to open in September 2021.

School Naming Committees were formed for both new schools and comprised local Trustees, staff, students, a member of the Indigenous Advisory Circle, and community members. The committee consulted with the broader school community on potential names and committee members for the Unnamed North Ajax French Immersion and the Unnamed North Whitby Public School.

The Ajax school will be named Rosemary Brown Public School after the prominent Jamaican-born Canadian who was a social worker, Canada’s first Black female member of a provincial legislature, the first woman to run for leadership of a federal political party and was named Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission in 1993.

After her political career, Brown turned her attention to the international stage and worked tirelessly in gaining support for overseas projects that promoted the political, economic and social advancement of women in developing countries.

Rosemary Brown

Speaking of her connection to truth and reconciliation regarding the indigenous people in Canada, Brown said, “Until all of us have made it, none of us have made it.” captures our belief that we must continue to make advancements in our schools and world that lead to all of us “making it”. It captures our belief that we must continue to make advancements in our schools and world that lead to all of us “making it”.

The Whitby school will be named Willows Walk Public School.  Willows Walk was the name given to the community, in which the school is located, when the subdivision was established in 2002. The willow is a symbol of new life with its ability to grow and survive challenging conditions. The school will open in September.

Durham District School Board Director of Education Norah Marsh said:  “We are thrilled to have each of our new school communities choose a name they feel represents their values in educating their children. Our staff and educators will continue to work hard to achieve the values embedded in each school name with leadership, success, innovation, well-being, equity and through engaging the community.”