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Prime Minister's apology raises questions about school name

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Michael Hugall/ NNSL photo The name of J.H. Sissons called into question following Justin Trudeau's apology to the LGBTQ+2 community across Canada. (December 2, 2017)

Following an apology to the LGBTQ+2 community by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife believes more can be done – including taking a hard look at the name of a Yellowknife school.

“There are many laws that need to be changed and practices that need to be addressed within the various government systems,” stated Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife executive director Chelsea Thacker in an email. “We recognize and celebrate the changes that have come to the community of Yellowknife, but we also realize there is much more work to do.”

The name of J.H. Sissons called into question following Justin Trudeau's apology to the LGBTQ+2 community across Canada.
Michael Hugall/ NNSL photo

Although Thacker notes there are much more pressing issues in the community affecting the LGBTQ+2 community, the possible renaming of a YK school built in 1975 will certainly be talked about in the future.

J.H. Sissons school bares the name of a Supreme Court justice who sentenced a gay man, Everett George Klippert, to jail for “gross indecency.” The decision was later determined to be a ruling brought on by Klippert's sexuality.

Klippert was convicted in 1965 and three years later, then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau instituted the Criminal Law Amendments Act which abolished penalties against people who interacted in same-sex relations. Although the act was implemented in 1968 Klippert was not released until 1971.

“If YK1 is willing to sit down and look at the name we are certainly willing to look at it with them, said Thacker.

Trudeau stood on the floor of the House of Commons last week in hopes to reconcile the treatment of the LGBTQ+2 community. The apology highlighted how Canadians have treated people of the LGBT+2 community over the history of our lifetime, saying LGBTQ+2 members were treated with suspicion while also being harassed and in some cases imprisoned.

Shortly after, NWT Premier Bob McLeod issued a statement.

“I commend the Prime Minister for issuing this apology and putting Canada at the forefront of this issue,” stated McLeod. “The Northwest Territories stands strong with Canada and it's message.”

However commending the apology from the Prime Minister may not be enough to improve the relationship with northern members of the LGBTQ+2 community.

Thacker said she hopes the government apology will bring about change for the future of Canada.

The question on the around the school's name comes in the midst of Yk1's attempt to build another school to accommodate increasing enrolment.

As previously reported in Yellowknifer, J.H. Sissons has not undergone a major renovation since it was first built.

Results on the decision to build a new addition to the school will be released in January.

“While building a new school where J.H. Sissons is there may be interest in renaming it,” said YK1 chairperson John Stephenson.

“I respect the school community of that day ... it was a choice of the people at the time to honour an individual who was a member of the court.”

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Students at J.H. Sissons school may be dispersed around the community after the boards decision to rebuild the school. NNSL photo