A new school being built near downtown Windsor doesn't have a name and that's stirring up some debate.
The Giles Campus French Immersion school is being built around the historic International Playing Card Factory on Mercer St.
There's a group that wants to see it named after James L. Dunn, an African-Canadian business owner who pushed to abolish segregation in Windsor's schools.
Kristen Siapas sits on the naming committee and says the school board is pushing for more conceptual names like "discovery", "legacy" or "vista".
Siapas says parents and community members on the committee brought the Dunn name forward.
"He was Windsor's first black alderman and he sat as Windsor's first black school board trustee. So we thought this was really significant news to bring forward during Black History Month because bringing his name forward and putting his name on the school is a wonderful way to honour his legacy," she says.
Siapas says naming the school after Dunn would be a great way to raise awareness.
"He came from this neighbourhood. He was somebody who lived in this neighbourhood who fought for people who lived in this neighbourhood and who stood up for rights of African-Canadians in the education system," she says. "Naming the school after him would be a wonderful way to honour that legacy and to tell the story to a new generation of students."
Siapas says the Dunn name means a lot to the neighbourhood.
"The school board is really clear about what they like for branding. Names like "legacy", "discovery", "vista", but the great thing about James L. Dunn as a name for the school is that it has a tie specifically to this neighbourhood and specifically to this community in a way that a more conceptual name doesn't," she says.
Siapas says there are currently four names in the running for the new school.
The issue is expected to come before trustees for a decision later this month or in early March.
The $15.4-million school is expected to be open by January 2021.
With files from Teresinha Medeiros