The possibility that Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School might get a new name next year has now sparked an online petition drive on Change.org.
At the end of this year, nearby Riverdale High will close and effectively merge with PCHS, forcing about 400 Riverdale students to attend high school in the building now occupied by PCHS.
A name change is just one of the things that may be in the offing as school officials prepare to sort out the logistics of merging the two schools by the end of the current school year.
Juan Lamosa is the head of the governing board at PCHS, and the man behind the petition to keep the name. He says changing the name of PCHS isn't the way to make the transition easier for students.
"The way it's been explained to us all along was. we're merging two schools," Lamosa says. "History has taught us that when you merge two communities, it's better to start fresh with a new name, even though it's in the same building. The fact of the matter is, we haven't seen any evidence of this working better."
Last month, the Legault government abruptly announced the closure of Riverdale, and will hand the building over to the French-language Marguerite Bourgeoys board.
Lamosa says they fully intend to find ways to respect the history of Riverdale in the new entity, without having to rebrand.