The death of a popular Halifax high school principal has the community considering the best way to recognize his accomplishments in education, and well beyond.

Wade Smith died on June 2 following a battle with stomach cancer. Tributes have continued to pour in since his passing.

Some who were close to Smith would like to see his name permanently displayed at the school where he touched so many lives.

"I think it would be a good idea,” says Citadel High School student Grace Flemming. “He was a big influence on the community."

Halifax philanthropist Fred MacGillivray says renaming Citadel High School would ensure Smith’s legacy is remembered for generations to come.

"I did send a message out and heard back from hundreds of people who are very positive and excited about the potential opportunity to rename the high school Wade Smith High," says MacGillvary. "Why not take the opportunity to allow his legacy to continue?”

The process to rename a school begins with the school's principal, who creates a four to six person recommendation committee that prepares a report for the governing board of the Halifax Regional School Board.

The report would include a communication plan which explains the process and timelines for public participation, opportunities for students to be involved, a public consultation process and clarification of the strategies used for decision making by the committee.

Archy Beals, the school board African Nova Scotian representative, would like to see a committee report before he takes an official stance.

"I know that there will be some way of memorializing Wade, but what that looks like I'm not sure, there would need to be some consultation with the community with the family," Beals says.  

But Beals did say he supports more public buildings honouring African Nova Scotian community leaders like Wade Smith.

"Having schools, buildings, whatever named in their honour is a positive thing to recognize the contributions that members of the African Nova Scotian community have made," says Beals.  

Beals and many others say the community has lost a true role model and great leader.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Allan April.