A Winnipeg school that was asked by the community to change its name will do so next school year.
The Board of Trustees of the Winnipeg School Division announced Tuesday, that Wolseley School will officially be renamed Little Bluestem School
The school, which was named after a native prairie grass found in the Wolseley neighbourhood, will officially make its name change effective the 2026/27 school year.
The school community overwhelmingly supported the name, which also honours the deep roots of the neighourhood, where bison once fed on the native grass and Métis communities long thrived.
“This renaming process reflects what public education is all about—listening, learning, and working together,” said Kathy Heppner, Chair of the Winnipeg School Division Board of Trustees. “The Board is grateful to everyone who contributed their voices. The new name honours both the place the school calls home and the learning that happens inside its walls.”
The entire community, including staff, students, volunteers and area residents worked together to create a shortlist of name ideas, taking every idea into consideration.
“The depth of learning and engagement throughout this process has been meaningful,” said Matt Henderson, Superintendent of Winnipeg School Division. “Student voice was at the heart of this work—learning about history, culture, and community, and helping shape a name that reflects who they are and what they value.”
The timeline for new signage and celebrations have not yet been decided. More information will be released in the months ahead.
Winnipeg School Division is the largest and oldest school division in the Province of Manitoba with 32,000 students and nearly 6,000 employees at 78 schools.
