Queen Victoria Public School changed to Dr. Rita Cox-Kina Minogok Public School

BY PAUL JUNOR

The renaming of the historic elementary school, Queen Victoria Public School in Parkdale to Dr. Rita Cox-Kina Minogok Public School is a fitting tribute to the revered librarian. The announcement was made in a letter by Dr. Debbie Donsky, Superintendent of Education and Principal Darlene Jones. The decision to rename the school was made after Toronto District School Board’s Trustees voted in favour of the motion at its May 25^th, board meeting.

Rita Cox is a celebrated: storyteller, librarian, teacher, author and community activist who hails from the island of Trinidad and Tobago. It was in 1960 that she was hired by the Toronto Public Library at Parkdale Library where she worked before being promoted to head librarian in 1972. During that time, she would make frequent visits to the schools in the community and share stories that allowed her to connect to the school community. She has travelled extensively all over the world and performed in: North America, Europe, Brazil and the Caribbean on stage, radio and television.

The Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection has over 1,800 books, DVDs, CDs, newspapers and magazines for: adults, children and teens. There is a focus on Black and Caribbean historical and cultural content with Caribbean content being featured prominently.

It was in 1973, that Dr. Cox was instrumental in the development of the Black Heritage and West Indian Resource Collection, which subsequently was renamed the Black and Caribbean Heritage in 1988. The Rita Cox Endowment Fund was established to ensure that there is further expansion and development of the unique collection that she started. She was the instructor in a course, “Children’s Literature: An Intercultural Perspective,” that was offered by York University.

Dr. Cox played a significant role in the development of literacy programs and spearheaded creative work that fostered the growth of multiculturalism and literacy initiatives throughout Canada. She was personally involved in training many storytellers in order to continue the tradition of storytelling which is distinctive to her legacy.

In attendance at the official renaming ceremony was Dr. Jean Augustine, Canada’s first Black female Member of Parliament; Tracey Ramsubagh-Mannette, Trinidad & Tobago’s Acting Consul General; Colleen Russell-Rawlins, Director of Education of the Toronto District School Board, and Itah Sadu, co-owner of the Blackhurst Cultural Centre.

Itah acknowledges the importance of recognizing Rita for her work as a living icon. She told the audience, “Today is a good day for me because this is happening in Rita’s lifetime. Rita Cox represents education, community and being the keeper of stories. That is what education is all about. What is more fitting than to have a woman who excelled in community development, bringing people together and opening doors and books where people can hear their stories, write their stories and have a greater awareness of each other. The whole purpose of education is to make us understand change, be prepared for change, create change and impact change.”

Michael Lashey, former Trinidad & Tobago Consul General in Toronto states, “As a librarian, activist, storyteller, project supporter and initiator of many community organizations her impact is very noteworthy. I am overjoyed that a school bears her name, and she was able to hear and see what people felt about having to work with her over the years.”