The Abbotsford School District along with the Abbotsford School District Retired Teachers Association (ADRTA) Heritage Committee has announced the completion of the What’s In a Name? legacy project.
The initiative, which aims to bring more awareness to the history behind local school names, was revealed as part of a historical resource created by the ADRTA Heritage Committee to commemorate that group's 50th anniversary last fall.
The project was considered a labour of love by organizers and was gifted to the district as a lasting educational resource. It compiles historical details from newspapers, archives, and board records – information that was previously scattered and difficult to access – into a format that is more accessible to students and the community.
"As students explore the stories behind their school names, they gain a deeper appreciation of their community’s past,” stated Tracy Krys, director of curriculum for the district. “We are incredibly grateful to the ADRTA Heritage Committee for their dedication and generosity in preserving this important piece of local history. This resource will enrich classroom discussions and inspire learning for years to come.”
In the first phase of the project, dedicated school history pages were added to each school’s website, offering insights into the people, places, and events that have shaped Abbotsford’s schools and neighbourhoods. In addition to these online resources, each school has received a binder containing historical information for all schools in the district. These binders help to provide educators with a hands-on tool to support learning activities in the classroom.
To explore the school history pages, visit the ASD website for a listing of individual school websites, and select ‘School History’ under the ‘About Us’ menu on each school website.
