Balfour Bears new name to replace Redmen

Balfour Collegiate in Regina has a new name and a fierce, furry mascot.
 
The school’s logo of a red B will be replaced by a fierce, growling bear as the school has chosen to be the Balfour Bears.

The new mascot and name was unveiled on Friday and already students were embracing the change.  Serena is excited to spend the next two years as a Balfour Bear.
 
 “I just hope that we’ll have a new team cheer at football games and basketball games. It’s really exciting.”
 
The bears was the least favorite mascot option for Braedon, but he is starting to warm up to it.
 
“I just thought some people might perceive it as a very generic name, it’s pretty popular. It’s popular because it’s a good name.”  
 
For Zachary the name Redmen was good for its time but it doesn’t hold up today.
 
“Redman, it kind of sets that stereotype on First Nations. As Bears, it applies to everybody. Everybody can identify as a bear.”
 
Principle Corrine Miller Students said the name was decided by a committee who heard suggestions from students, staff, elders and alumni.
 
“We had one alumni who graduated in the 1940’s, who came in with his hand written suggestions for a new name,” said Miller.   
 
Out of all the ideas submitted, Miller said that anything with the word ‘red’ was very popular but they decided the bear was the best fit. It appears many students agree as Miller heard positive responses after an assembly.  
 
“The number one question that I received when I walked out of our auditorium was ‘when can I buy the shirt?,’” said Miller. 
 
This isn’t the first time the school has changed their name. In the 1930’s and 40’s the school used the logo BTS and teams were known as the Balfour Techies. Their use of the colour red would inspire the name Redmen and by 1968 a First Nations headdress logo was used. The headdress was later phased out in the 90’s. 
 
The new Balfour Bears name and logo will be added to team jerseys as well as in the school’s gym by the fall of 2015.

DShawcross@rawlco.com

On Twitter: @DebShawcross