From Redmen to Redhawks: Saskatchewan school changes name, logo for sports teams

SASKATOON – Students and staff broke into applause as a Saskatoon-area high school unveiled a new name and logo for its sports teams.

Principal Cody Hanke (HANK’-ee) revealed Bedford Road Collegiate’s teams will now be known as the Redhawks instead of the Redmen.

The new logo is a red-tailed hawk’s head with the name framed in black.

Hanke pointed out that the new design still maintains the school’s colour of red that dates back to 1923.

The school board voted last spring to scrap the name Redmen for its teams, along with a logo depicting an aboriginal man with braids and feathers.

Board chairman Ray Morrison said at the time that although the origin of the Redmen name was innocuous, there had been feedback suggesting it was no longer appropriate.

On Tuesday, Hanke said the hawk was partially chosen because of its link to the Prairies.

“Our students can go to the edge of the city and see a red-tail hawk.”

(CKOM)