Bedford Road Collegiate
Address
722 Bedford Road

Saskatoon
,
Saskatchewan
,
S7L 0G2

Canada
Coordinates52°08′02″N 106°40′49″W / 52.134°N 106.6804°W / 52.134; -106.6804
Information
TypeSecondary
MottoTradition, Commitment, Excellence
Opened1923 (1923)
School boardSaskatoon Public Schools
PrincipalTammy Girolami
GradesGrade 9 to Grade 12
Enrollment643[1] (2017)
Education systemSaskatoon Public School Department
LanguageEnglish
Colour(s)Red, White and Black      
MascotBig Red
Team nameRedhawks
WebsiteBedford Road Collegiate

Bedford Road Collegiate is a public high school on the west side of the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is Saskatoon's second oldest high school, opened on February 12, 1923. It is also known as BRCI (Bedford Road Collegiate Institute), or Bedford. Bedford Road Collegiate is part of the Saskatoon Public School Division.

Currently its feeder schools are Caswell Community School, Henry Kelsey School, King George Community School, Mayfair Community School,and Westmount Community School.

Campus

The school is shaped in the form of 2 concentric squares on top of each other, with the lower floor containing the gymnasium, auditorium, offices, as well as the music department, shop classroom and general purpose classrooms. In the lower square's center, the library is located. The upper floor contains the science department, art department, computer labs and general purpose classrooms. The lower square also contains the office department and conference rooms. a large commons area is also present on the lower floor. There is an in-campus restaurant called Redhawk Roost in the commons. In the past, two vending machines could be found near the auditorium. These vending machines were faulty and often failed to give change. The vending machines have been replaced as of September 2019, with two new vending machines taking their place. While the new vending machines do work better, many students have expressed disdain at the raised prices and lower quality in food.

In the early 1960s, an "Indian Head" logo was adopted as the sports team logo for the school in addition to the original "Lantern" logo. In the mid-1990s, a campaign was started to change the "Redmen" name and the "Indian Head" logo claiming they are a "human rights violations." Some First Nations academics and alumni consider the use of "Redmen" to be outdated and offensive.[2] In 1996, a student vote ended overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the name and logo.[3] The school has consulted with students, parents, community members, school staff, First Nations and Métis elders and leaders about the logo and team name on a number of occasions. Each time, the majority of the stakeholders wanted to retain the name and the logo. However, in 2011, the campaign against the logo was revived via Facebook,[4] gaining national media attention and causing the Saskatoon Public School Division to reconsider the logo.[5][6][7] In early 2013, protesters attempted to demonstrate at the Bedford Road Invitational Tournament, but they were blocked by teachers and police from entering.[8] A new logo was launched during the 2013 BRCI graduation. According to the school, the design changes were meant to represent various aspect of First Nation culture and heritage.[9]

In March 2014, the Saskatoon public school board passed a motion to have the school drop the name "Redmen" and use a new name by the beginning of the new school year in September.[10] The new name for Bedford Road, as chosen by a group of 70 staff, students, and alumni, was the Redhawks, drawing on the red tail hawk native to Saskatchewan.[11]

Student life

Athletics

Bedford Road Collegiate's sports teams are known as the Redhawks, and (although less commonly used today) "Lady Redhawks" for female teams. Athletic programs include football, cheerleading, wrestling, basketball, soccer, badminton, track & field, golf, and cross country. Bedford Road also hosts sports tournaments the Redhawks Classic and Redhawks Volley, along with BRIT.

BRIT

The Bedford Road Invitational Tournament (BRIT) is a boys' basketball tournament held by the school every year since 1968, attracting national and international high school teams to Saskatoon.[12] There is also a cheerleading and dance competition component to the tournament.

Notable alumni

School song

Students at Bedford Road Collegiate traditionally sing the school song, which is adapted from the Notre Dame Victory March. "Red and white" refers to Bedford's school colours.

We'll stand and cheer for the old red and white
 And we'll defend her with all our might
We're from Bedford and we're proud
To echo her praises long and loud
Though we may wander o'er land and sea (hey!)
Our old collegiate she'll always be
We'll fight, fight, fight, with all our might
For the spirit of Bedford Road

References

  1. ↑ Active List of Saskatchewan Schools/Programs (PDF), retrieved 2018-02-10
  2. ↑ "Redmen team name irks Saskatoon high school graduate". CBC News. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  3. ↑ "Seeing Red: High School Logo Controversy Leads to Some Serious Hate". Planet S Magazine. 2011-10-20. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  4. ↑ "Change Redmen Facebook page". Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  5. ↑ "'Indian head' logo raises controversy in Saskatoon". Canadian University Press. 2011-11-07. Archived from the original on 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  6. ↑ "'Group demands Redmen name change". The Star Phoenix. 6 October 2011. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  7. ↑ "Researcher says native images in sports harmful". The Star Phoenix. 2013-04-13. Archived from the original on 2014-01-12. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  8. ↑ "Protest about 'Redmen' thwarted at Saskatoon high school". CBC News. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  9. ↑ 46th Annual BRIT 2014 Program. Saskatoon: Bedford Road Collegiate. 2014. p. 10.
  10. ↑ "Change Bedford Road Redmen name, school board says". CBC News. 2014-03-04. Retrieved 2014-03-05.
  11. ↑ "Bedford Road replaces Redmen name with Redhawks". CBC News. June 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Bedford Road Invitational Tournament". Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
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