St. Albert Public Schools to remove all ‘permanent’ memorials

St. Albert Public Schools say the memorials could have harmful effects as well as negatively impact staff and student's mental health.

A recent decision is leaving people without a way to honour a loved one who died.

St. Albert Public Schools announced that all permanent memorials for staff and students across the division will be taken down.

The new guideline is upsetting to many, who say this is how they keep the memory alive, like Aiden McGaw.  McGaw lost his sister in 2021 and one of the many things McGaw remembers his sister Shea-Lynn for is her energetic personality.

“When she smiles, it carries on in the room so it spreads everywhere,” he said.

After she died, his family set up a memorial and scholarship for her at school. But his family recently got a phone call that it will be coming down.

“That was the last thing we expected to happen. I know I was pretty distraught about it. We’ve got to change things, not taking that as an answer,” McGaw said.

Last week, St. Albert Public Schools sent out new guidelines that all permanent memorials will be taken down.

“We’ve actually suffered immense losses in our division in the past few years and they weren’t all being treated equitably,” said St. Albert Public Schools communications manager Paula Power.