Arena name change official

It was a matter of principle for Coun. Struchan Gilson and Coun. Dave Bourgeault, who voted against the bylaw to amend council’s previous decision on the names of the rinks at the new Memorial Sports Centre.
Council changed its mind at a special meeting Dec. 2, going with “Ice for Kids Millennium Arena” for the new ice surface and the “Canadians Arena” for the existing one.
Coun. Gilson was out of town when this move was made. Upon his return, he said he was surprised to see what his fellow councillors had done.
“I thought we went through the proper channels,” Coun. Gilson said at Monday night’s council meeting. “During this process, I didn’t receive one phone call, one letter. We made a decision. We did not stick to that decision.
“I’m going to vote against this bylaw not because I disagree with the name but in the way it was done,” he stressed. “I’m voting against this as a matter of principle.”
“It is a matter of principle with me as well,” echoed Coun. Bourgeault. “Had the name been considered right from the start, I wouldn’t have had a problem with it.
“It was the way we ended up choosing the name,” he argued.
Coun. Sharon Tibbs sympathized with their positions, noting she was “very disappointed” none of the “Ice for Kids” supporters came to council ahead of time to voice their concerns.
But she also urged them both to reconsider.
“I would ask that both of you support this bylaw for this reason–we have done something wonderful for this community [and] we have done something wonderful for the kids,” she said.
“If it takes renaming the facility and putting a positive spin on what was becoming a negative issue, I ask you for your support,” she continued.
“I don’t know if we were King Solomon if we could do much more.”
“I think voting against this bylaw will not help move things on,” Coun. Deane Cunningham warned. “I wasn’t happy with the process [either]. But we’ve got to move on with the project.”
“I completely agree with what you said, but it’s not the name, it’s the way the name came about that bothered me,” Coun. Gilson reiterated. “I would not be true and honest to myself if I voted the way you wanted me to.”
The bylaw ultimately passed by a vote of 5-2.