Proposal to rename Saskatoon's John A Macdonald Road clears first hurdle
Saskatoon's John A Macdonald Road is one step closer to having a new name.
Ward 3 Coun. David Kirton presented a motion at Monday's Governance and Priorities Committee meeting that would start the process of having the road renamed.
The motion says it's a way to acknowledge the ongoing harm the community experienced because of residential schools and the role Canada's first prime minister played in the residential school system.
The motion passed at committee unanimously and will go before City Council for further approval.
Kirton says he’ll be working with different levels of government to help ensure there are no costs to residents for changing over the street name.
“We're going to demand of them, in the spirit of reconciliation that any costs that are associated with the change of those addresses be eaten up by the organizer,” said Kirton
He gave the example for the cost of changing people’s street address through Canada Post.
“I would be extremely surprised if we were turned down on a request such as this,” Kirton told CTV News.
RECONCILIATION ROAD?
Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand has suggested Reconciliation Road as an alternative but Kirton says much still needs to be decided.
“We need to take the time to engage with the residents of Confederation Park neighbourhood in general, but also with elders and with survivors,” said Kirton.
- but not everyone living on the road is on board with the move just yet.
Some residents have voiced concern over the fees and other factors associated with changing the street name.
“All your banking or your pet veterinarian tags, they all have to be changed,” resident Dan Norton said.
“It all comes down to the John A residents, not people that are two blocks over this way, or two blocks over there. They're willing to say yes, because they have no work involved to make this change happen.”
Charlene Gunn has been living on John A Macdonald Road since 2008. Gunn said her husband is a residential school survivor and that she understands and respects the motion, but wants to ensure the potential costs of handling mailing issues are addressed.
“It’s going to be a hassle, an inconvenience. It’s our mailing address and also with our animals, we have them register with the city,” said Gunn.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Feature Report Fixed or variable? Advice from more than 50 brokers for Canadians whose mortgages are up for renewal
Over the next year-and-a-half, 44 per cent of all mortgages will be up for renewal in Canada. To help guide consumers through these uncertain financial times, CTV News reached out to more than 50 mortgage brokers across Canada with a list of questions. Their answers provide professional guidance for individuals and families searching for clarity and sound advice.
Bread, milk, apples: Federal NDP wants price cap for grocery store staples
The federal New Democrats want a price cap on grocery store staples if the Liberal government can't convince grocers to bring down the prices themselves.
Mourners can now speak to an AI version of the dead. But will that help with grief?
A 61-year-old startup entrepreneur teamed up with his friend in the U.S., Robert LoCascio, CEO of the AI-powered legacy platform Eternos. Within two months, they built "a comprehensive, interactive AI version" of Michael Bommer -- the company's first client.
National Bank of Canada seizes Ont. woman's car by mistake
A university student woke up one morning to find her car had been towed away without warning. She finally got answers - just not the ones she expected.
North Korea's trash balloons deepen tensions with the South. Here's what's happening between rivals
Animosities between North and South Korea are rising sharply again over an unusual cause: The North's rubbish-carrying balloons.
Her gut was producing alcohol. Doctors didn't believe her
For two years doctors told her she was an alcoholic. Then they realized her gut was making alcohol from carbohydrates, a rare condition called auto-brewery syndrome.
Forest bathing: What it is and why some Alberta doctors recommend it
Many people are familiar with the benefits of being in nature, but forest therapy goes a step further than a simple walk in the woods.
India election: Modi's coalition leads in early count but opposition is stiffer than expected
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's coalition led in a majority of seats Tuesday in India's general election, according to early figures, but faced a stronger challenge from the opposition than expected after it pushed back against the leader's mixed economic record and polarizing politics.
Takeaways from Fauci's testimony at contentious House hearing on COVID-19 pandemic
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified on Monday at a House subcommittee hearing about the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the origins of the virus.