New Angus high school now has a name

By Laurie Watt Barrie Advance May 31, 2011

ANGUS – The name of the Simcoe County District School Board’s newest high school shows those who write the history books rule once more.

Nottawasaga Pines – the first choice of the community naming committee – features a racial slur according to at least one school board trustee. Nottawasaga, noted native trustee Jeff Monague, is such a terrible word, he pauses to utter it. 

“When I hear the word, have always heard the word as a child, it only means one thing. It’s very simply a racial slur on a people,” he said. “Regardless of whether we may have one Iroquiois child, 10 or 100 (in our schools), it’s still a racial slur. It’s the root. I don’t think we should be continuing that type of thing.”