U of C alumni petition for name change in honour of former barista

Former University of Calgary students are hoping to get the school to rename an on-campus cafe after a former barista.

Graham Duff and Dominique MacDonald started an online petition to have the space renamed to “Annette’s Corner.”

It’s the best way they can think of to celebrate the life of Annette Schmirler, who worked at the Baron’s Court, and passed away this year because of a heart condition.

“Annette made that section of the campus a real happy place,” MacDonald said. “Students would come in and she would greet them with her boistrous ‘Hello,’ you could hear it across the hall. She knew every single student’s name and their order.”

“The idea of memorializing that section of campus is to continue to have that space a positive one.”

Duff adds, the change would show how one person can have an impact on so many people.

“I think she’s definitely going to live on with those people who knew her anyway, but it’s going to give an opportunity to see every day a reminder of what she meant to students, and also live on and affect future students,” he said. “A person like Annette is pretty rare, and future students hopefully will see a plaque or something of that sort and have the opportunity to understand what impact a single person can have on campus.”

Once the petition reaches 1,000 signatures, Duff plans to deliver it to the Vice-President of Facilities and the Dean of Kinesiology.