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By Mike Vanden Bosch

Hope Secondary

Hope Secondary considers name change to Indigenous theme

Jun 11, 2025 | 7:52 AM

HOPE — The District of Hope says the area’s secondary school could undergo a name change that would honour an Indigenous language and reflect what it calls “the spirit of our community.”

In a social media post Tuesday, the district said the proposed name is: Shxwelí:s te Ts’qó:ls – Spirit of Hope Secondary School. The word Shxwelí:s means life spirit of all living things, while Ts’qó:ls is the traditional name for Hope.

“The idea originally came from Tristen Kelly, a student and member of the Shxw’ōw’hamel Band, and has been shaped through a thoughtful process with Elders, school staff, and community input,” the district wrote on Facebook.

The district believes the name change is a step in the right direction.

“It’s a powerful step toward reconciliation — and a great chance for all of us to learn something new,” the District of Hope wrote.

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People can watch a video about the name change at https://www.hopesecondary.com/.

The District of Hope received overwhelmingly positive feedback from its social media post about the proposed name change.