The Nou Barris district of Barcelona has taken a significant step towards recognising key figures in education with the inauguration of the new plaza Maria Antònia Canals Tolosa. This event, which took place on Sunday, June 14th at 12:00 hours, was presided over by the district councillor, Xavier Marcé. The choice of name for this plaza is no coincidence; Canals was a prominent teacher and mathematician who left an indelible mark on Catalan pedagogy.
A transformative educational legacy
Maria Antònia Canals was born in Barcelona in 1930 and passed away in Girona in 2022. Throughout her life, she stood out as a co-founder of the Rosa Sensat Teachers' Association, an entity that promoted pedagogical renewal in Catalonia. Her commitment to education materialised in 1962 with the founding of the Ton i Guida school, located in the Verdum neighbourhood, where she started with just 42 students. In just ten years, that number skyrocketed to 400 students, a remarkable achievement considering that many children in the area were not enrolled in school.
The decision to honour her memory by naming this new plaza was approved by the Nomenclature Commission during its meeting in July 2025. This act not only celebrates her contribution to education but also aims to inspire future generations about the importance of access to inclusive and quality education.
Throughout her career, Maria Antònia Canals received numerous recognitions for her educational work. One of the most notable was the Medal of Honour of the City of Barcelona, awarded in 2009. Her work has been fundamental in transforming the Catalan educational landscape and continues to be a reference for educators and students.
The inauguration of this plaza represents a collective tribute to her legacy and a reminder of the positive impact that a single person can have on their community. The new plaza is strategically located between Llopis and Alvarado streets, thus becoming a public space where neighbours can remember and celebrate the values that Canals defended throughout her life.
As Nou Barris continues to develop as a vibrant and diverse district, this new public space will serve not only as a place for recreation but also as a focal point for community activities related to education and learning. The figure of Maria Antònia Canals will be remembered every time citizens visit this plaza, thus fostering an active educational culture among new generations.
With initiatives like these, Barcelona reaffirms its commitment to historical and cultural recognition, ensuring that significant contributions to social well-being are never forgotten.
You may also like
