Edmonton Public School Board announces names of five new schools

Former Edmonton City councillor Michael Phair will have a public school named after him.

Alberta’s first openly gay elected official has been honoured by having a school named after him.

Michael Phair was one of five people who will be having schools named after them.

Phair served on Edmonton City Council for 15 years. During his time with council he focused on LGBTQ issues, homelessness, affordable housing and recycling.

“I think I represent some of that progressive thinking going on at Edmonton public these last number of years,” Phair told CTV News.

The school with his name will be located in Webber Greens, west of the Henday.

Edmonton Public School Board chair Michael Janz said they had over 200 names put forward by the community.

“All five of these names that we picked are exemplary leaders in our community they’ve made very significant contributions to education or to Edmonton or to our province.”

The other individuals honoured include University of Alberta scientist Margaret Ann Arbour, equal rights activist Ellie Carlson, late Edmonton mayor Ivor Dent and one of Canada’s first MLAs Roberta MacAdams.