The London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) is being asked to consider changing a secondary school mascot.
The Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Oppression Advisory Committee brought the request forward, suggesting that the Catholic Central “Crusaders” adopt a new moniker.
Committee chair Rifat Hussain told 980 CFPL that the mascot references the Crusades, a series of holy wars fought in the Middle Ages.
“It’s still a part of history that’s not pretty,” said Hussain.
“When you look at history books, it always sides on the victor. So when you look at it from an academic perspective, it’s only one side. You’re not telling the other side of the story. That’s what we want to address.”
Hussain argues that having a mascot that celebrates a dark moment in history makes it harder for the city to become more diverse and inclusive.
“That constant reminder of what happened in the past is not helping.”
The request is part of a larger bid by the committee to get both the London District Catholic School Board and the Thames Valley District School Board to reconsider some of its school mascots, particularly those that deal with or reference negative historical events.
980 CFPL has reached out to the LDCSB for comment but has yet to receive a response.