The new Parry Sound Elementary School, which officially opened to students Sept. 8, will bear the name of Francis Pegahmagabow, the most highly decorated Indigenous solider in Canadian military history.
Local officials and dignitaries, including Education Minister Paul Calandra, were joined by multiple generations of the Pegahmagabow family for the unveiling on Sept. 15.
Granddaughter Theresa McInnis said the family hopes present and future generations of native and non-native people alike can share in the historic feats of bravery and the service Pegahmagabow gave to people of all nations of the world.
“My dream has come true. Naming the elementary school after a native son and war hero Francis Pegahmagabow. This means a lot to his family. We are all very grateful,” she said.
Calandra spoke after McInnis. He said he hadn’t heard of Pegahmagabow until Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith had approached him about naming this school after him. After doing his own research, he quickly realized Pegahmagabow was the right choice.
“He was incredible. He was a National hero, and a hero to his people,” said Calandra. “The accomplishments of this person are second to none. It is hard to imagine somebody who has accomplished so much, not only in his service, but he just never stopped after that. He was a positive force for change.”
Along with a decorated military history, Pegahmagabow also served as chief and councillor for Wasauksing First Nation and was an activist and leader of several First Nations organizations.
“It is not just for the people of the Parry Sound area to understand and appreciate the significance of Francis Pegahmagabow its something that I think all Ontario students should learn about,” said Calandra. “What he accomplished is a lesson for everybody.”
