Lillooet ‘Wildfires’ douse school mascot due to B.C. fires
Posted January 19, 2022 2:41 pm.
Last Updated January 19, 2022 2:42 pm.
A school in Lillooet is changing its mascot following devastating fires in B.C. over the past few years.
In a letter to students and staff, Lillooet Secondary School (LSS) says it is retiring the “Wildfire” mascot as it no longer represents the positivity it was originally intended to.
“The devastating loss of life and property that occurred during the Lytton Fire, as well as the Elephant Hill fire, has cast the logo in very different light,” the letter reads. “We simply cannot celebrate something that may add to the profound trauma that is ongoing for our neighbours.”
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LSS only adopted the “Wildfire” mascot in 2017 after retiring the Baron to be more “inclusive of everyone.”
“The change made a noticeable impact across the school community. As one student memorably described it, ‘We have become a force of nature,'” the school said.
Despite the meaningfulness of their mascot, LSS says “we cannot ignore how it impacts those around us.”
The school plans to begin the process of finding a new mascot in the coming months, and accept ideas from current, past, future students, as well as the community.
The new mascot is set to be launched in June.
