Penticton’s Queen’s Park Elementary reigned in a new era on March 16.
The school on 330 Power Street retired its “crown” logo and launched a new one last week to properly identify with something that better represents the area it stands on, which before development would have been wetlands.
Students and staff worked with the Penticton Indian Band (PIB) to design the logo after it was decided that the kingfisher — a bird native to the region — best represents them.
The unveiling of the logo was supported by a ceremony last Wednesday (March 16), which included students singing the Okanagan blessing and sharing facts about the kingfisher, as assisted by Alison Reign, the school’s Indigenous support worker.
“One of the attributes of the kingfisher is that they are ‘small but mighty’ and we felt this described our students,” said school principal Ron Manning.
PIB Chief Greg Gabriel was among the guests present at Wednesday’s ceremony.
Manning’s leadership and the spirit of reconciliation sparked the decision to retire the old “crown” logo, according to the school. The principal was appointed to the position in 2019.
Levi George, artist and member of the Penticton Indian Band, designed Queen’s Park Elementary’s new logo. (Photo: Tess Henderson)
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