Fort Frances council is expected to make a vote and choose two different names for Colonization Road East and Colonization Road West next Monday.
On Monday, the Planning and Development Executive Committee agreed on nine names that will be presented to council in order to vote on two names to replace Colonization Road East and Colonization Road West.
Members of the committee agreed to have different names for both roads to avoid confusion for emergency and ambulance personnel as they are not connected to each other.
Colonization Road East will be renamed to one of the following five names: Agamiing (at the shore) Drive, Shoreline Drive, Harmony Drive, Nibi (water) Drive or Sunrise Drive.
Colonization Road West will be renamed to one of the following four names: Sunset Trail, Heritage Trail, Spirit Trail or Moonlight Trail.
The names Agamiing and Nibi, are in Anishinaabemowin.
These nine names were shortlisted from a list of over 75 names presented by members of the public, along with letters explaining the rationale behind each name suggestion.
Prior to the meeting held Monday morning, Coun. Douglas Judson created an unofficial online survey over his personal Facebook page, administered between April 29 and May 2, to get a sense of which names his constituents favour the most.
About 361 individuals from across different age groups completed the unofficial online questionnaire over the 4-day period. According to the unofficial survey results, respondents indicated that they would like to see at least one of the new names reflect Indigenous language, heritage or culture.
“I don’t think it’s going to look well upon us if our idea of engaging and reconciliation is not actually honouring Indigenous people in the way we have with so many other people with our streets,” Judson said.
Mayor June Caul said she agrees with having one name in Anishinaabemowin as it shows the town’s commitment to reconciliation with First Nation communities.
Caul said having both road names in English is defeating the purpose of reconciliation because the only shortlisted Anishinaabemowin names are for Colonization Road East.
“I think it would be appropriate in the east because we’re entering from the First Nations community and going back into it when we come and go,” Caul said.
However, Coun. Wendy Brunetta said although she did not carry out a survey, she spoke with constituents who live on the Colonization Roads.
“I have to say that my results were the opposite of [Judson’s],” Brunetta said. “I don’t understand why, except that maybe we just have different people that we’ve talked to. I have to say that of those people I’ve spoken to, none of them were in favour of an Ojibway name.”
Brunetta said the constituents she spoke with understand why the name is being changed and they agree with the rationale.
“They agreed with the fact that removing the name was a good way to show that we are working towards reconciliation,” Brunetta added.
Although it did not make the final list, both Coun. John McTaggart and Brunetta said they believed Front Street for Colonization Road East was a viable option. But with renaming and renumbering concerns, the possibility was ruled out.
Cody Vangel, building official and municipal planner, said Front Street starts at La Verendrye Hospital and continuing the street name would require the town to do some renumbering on some properties.
In terms of the implementation timeline, the committee agreed to have the selected names come into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. Prior to that, the committee will meet in December of 2021 in order to have a better understanding of where residents and businesses are at with changing the required documents.
Finally, when the road names are taken down, Judson requested that one sign be kept at the Fort Frances Museum, the second be given to Manitou Mounds and the third be given to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Town council meetings are open to the public online through the Microsoft Teams platform or the public can phone-in. To access a town council meeting, follow the instructions at the top of the agenda you would like to attend, posted at www.fortfrances.ca or call 807-274-5323 for assistance.
