Windsor's new French Immersion school on Mercer Street will be named James L. Dunn Public School.
The Greater Essex County District School Board surveyed the public for ideas before a naming committee came up with four recommendations for school board trustees to consider.
In the past few years, trustees have chosen names that reflected the community's geographic features, or aspirational ideals, names like Lakeshore Discovery or Westgate Freedom Academy. Board Chair Ron LeClair admitted naming the school after Dunn is a break from the recent trend.
"Our policy has always permitted the use of a person's name," LeClair explained. "But the tradition recently has been to go to more of a geographic-type name."
The other three recommendations before board trustees Tuesday night were Ambassador Public School, Ensemble Public School, and Heritage Public School.
Dunn, a local entrepreneur before he entered politics, established the J. L. Dunn Paint and Varnish Company in 1867.
"As a black man, during the time that he was living, that was unique in itself," recounted LeClair. "However, he was also the first black school trustee, and the first black alderman in the City of Windsor."
Dunn was drawn to politics by the issue of segregation in Windsor schools and fought for desegregation.
Tuesday's vote by trustees was unanimous.
The new school will replace the Giles Campus French Immersion school. Construction on the $15.4 million school will start this spring in the former International Playing Card Company building and LeClair said it will open in January 2021.