Canandaigua schools get closer in choosing new nickname and mascot
CANANDAIGUA, NY – The field of potential names, mascots and symbols to replace the Canandaigua school district’s Braves and Friendship Belt logo has narrowed to eight.
The second of three surveys seeking input on the required nickname and logo change was released last week, asking the community for four top choices from the following: Canandaigua (no nickname), Bears, Cardinals, Coyotes, Gray Wolves, Lake Hawks, Lakers and Waves.
The first survey, released last month, offered 11 potential nicknames − whittled down from 40 or so − and offered a write-in choice, and the district received about 400 new submittals, according to Superintendent Jamie Farr.
“Four definitely rose to the top from there,” with another from the original survey included in this new survey, said Farr. After meeting with students over a three-day period, another name was added to the new list, along with two others emerging from the community.
Canandaigua is among several school districts that have to change.
The New York State Board of Regents earlier this year voted unanimously to prohibit the use of Native American names, mascots and logos for school districts and their sports teams. Further, the ruling stated that school districts cannot use what a vestige of what the name used to be, such as dropping the "s" from Braves to become Brave.
Canandaigua and other districts have known this was a possibility since November, with district officials here trying to make the case to retain the Braves nickname since that point, without success.
A third and final survey will be sent out June 16 asking the community for its top choice. Farr expects the community will be choosing from three to four names, although the final number will depend on the data from this survey.
“At that time, we’ll ask people to pick their number-one favorite,” Farr said. “The winner of that will be the one it will become.”
Whatever the name selected, Farr said it will be announced after graduation.
A new committee, with some of the same members who have been studying the naming issue, will be formed to focus on a style guide, mascot, if one is necessary, and identify a company that can help with branding and logo design.
The district will take the necessary time to study and make recommendations.
“We want to make sure we, just like this one, are really thoughtful about the process,” Farr said.
For details and more information, visit https://www.canandaiguaschools.org/district/news/symbol-forum/.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Canandaigua NY schools closer to new nickname and mascot
