Engaging contested minoritized commemorations: A métissage inspired inquiry into a vandalized bilingual (French-English) stop sign

Authors

Keywords:

contested commemorations, métissage, bilingual stop signs, Francophone

Abstract

This article examines a case of what we term a contested minoritized commemoration involving the vandalization of multiple bilingual (French-English) stop signs in the Mission District of Calgary (Alberta). We argue that these bilingual stop signs are minoritized commemorations and the vandalization of the French portion of these signs reflects a form of contestation. Drawing on hermeneutic and métissage methodologies, we weave together autobiographical texts stemming from how we individually related to and made sense of this act of anti-Francophone vandalism. Through interpreting our textual braids in relation to one another, we show how such an approach offers relational possibilities for engaging the educational challenges accompanying contested minoritized commemorations.

Author Biographies

David Scott, University of Calgary

is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education. His research examines the challenges and complexities of large-scale curriculum change, with a particular focus on how non-Indigenous educators negotiate curricular directives to engage Indigenous philosophies and historical experiences. Dr. Scott is currently a co-applicant on a SSHRC Partnership Grant, Thinking Historically for Canada’s Future, which focuses on history education in Canada. scottd@ucalgary.ca

Raphaël Gani , Université Laval

is an assistant professor of history education at Université Laval. He studies curricular translation, which is the translation of curricula at the legal, linguistic, political and pedagogical levels. His research is oriented around the perennial question of the single curriculum: should all students in an educational jurisdiction like Quebec follow the same curriculum for a subject like history? If not, what are the alternatives? raphael.gani@fse.ulaval.ca

Jessica Gobran , University of Calgary

is an M.A. student in Curriculum & Learning at the University of Calgary's Werklund School of Education. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, her research examines how mandated social studies curricula shape student identities and sense of historical consciousness. She is a graduate researcher with the Thinking Historically for Canada's Future SSHRC Partnership Grant and a practicing social studies teacher in Calgary, Alberta. jessica.gobran@ucalgary.ca

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Published

2026-02-18

How to Cite

Scott, D., Gani , R., & Gobran , J. (2026). Engaging contested minoritized commemorations: A métissage inspired inquiry into a vandalized bilingual (French-English) stop sign. McGill Journal of Education / Revue Des Sciences De l’éducation De McGill. Retrieved from https://mje.mcgill.ca/article/view/10264

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