Our logo is an environmental design that represents the school’s physical surroundings. The “M” symbol represents the mountains to the north and east of our school - Burke, Eagle and Golden Ears mountains are all visible from our school.  The slash through the “M” represents Hyde Creek that runs from the mountains to Pitt River.  The moon with a heron above is indicative of the heron population that makes the surrounding wetlands their home.  

In September 1996, George Pearkes Junior Secondary School was officially changed to Minnekhada Middle School, with a  grade 6 to 8 student population of 650.   The name “Minnekhada” derives from the Sioux First Nations language and means “beside running water”, significant because Hyde Creek is situated across the street and north of the school.

Hyde Creek is a salmon spawning habitat and the students, family and staff at Minnekhada have easy access to hiking trails, Minnekhada Regional Park, and Hyde Creek Recreation and Environmental Centres as a result.  As part of the Port Coquitlam community, we also have access to a lacrosse box right on our property, as well as Dennis MacDonald soccer complex and the Northside Business community.

 School artwork honours the First Nations.  We have three totem poles, two of them outdoors.  These were created by George Pearkes Technology Education students in 1971 and are situated in the courtyard at the back of the school.  The indoor totem, located in the main foyer, was carved by a group of Minnekhada students with the assistance of Rick Harry in 2004.

 Several First Nations-style paintings hang on the walls at Minnekhada as well.  The painting entitled, “Salmon People”, hangs in the staircase near the front foyer.  In 1999 this painting was created by students from our aboriginal education program under the guidance of Aboriginal Education support worker, Maurice Nahanee and artist William Nahanee.  “Salmon People” is a traditional B.C. painting of a “School of Salmon” to reflect the learning journey of our students who interact and learn from each other.  An additional painting hangs in the cafeteria and was presented to the school in 2004 by our First Nations students under the guidance of Nadia Maracle, First Nations Youth Worker,.

 The clay-tiled archway, located in our main hallway was created by former art students.  This First Nations mosaic was offered as a gift to mark the opening of Minnekhada Middle School in 1996.

 The Taber Carpenter Art Gallery located with the totem pole in the main entrance of the school, was officially opened in May 2006 in memory of Taber Carpenter, a former Minnekhada student.  Here is where the artwork of current Minnekhada students is displayed.

 Each team at Minnekhada has created a banner that represents the team name, and the pride in belonging to their team.  Our team names are reflective of our surrounding environment and the animals that make it their home.