It's storm season at Alberni District Secondary School.
While the official sinking of the 'Alberni Armada' school nickname was disappointing for some alumni, we welcome the change.
This is not the first time the nickname for the school or its sports teams has changed: there have been sports teams named Chieftains, Chiefettes, and even Celtics and Barbarians, according to school athletic director Mike Roberts. The 'Armada' moniker has only been around since 1985.
Students and staff say 'Storm' has more connection to the school and community than 'Armada' has had in the past few years.
The Storm has set records. The renaming process, which began unofficially more than a year ago, has involved both Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations from the start.
The new school nickname reflects the values of our community: that of inclusion and recognition of Indigenous Peoples who have been here long before an armada of colonial explorers found their way up the Alberni Inlet.
A logo for the Storm has yet to be unveiled: athletes wore red T-shirts with simple grey lettering spelling "Storm" on the front when the name was announced.
We expect the logo will also have a First Nations component, much like the stylized 'A' that was Indigenized by artist Gina Haiyupis and donated to the school in 2021.
As the emcee of the day pointed out, a storm ruled the day in the 1500s when the Spanish Armada attempted to invade England's coast. The storm prevented the ships from making shore, defeating the entire fleet.
It was time to sink the Armada for good.
— Alberni Valley News