Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief calls for John A. Macdonald road to be renamed
In the wake of the discovery of 215 unmarked children's graves at a residential school in Kamloops, the head of the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) is calling for John A. MacDonald Road to be renamed.
Tribal Chief Mark Arcand is asking the city to rename the street Reconciliation Road.
Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister is considered an architect of the residential school system.
Arcand believes the renaming will lead to reconciliation and healing for the many people that endured pain and suffering as a result of the residential school system, an STC news release said.
Arcand is expected to push for the name change during a press conference scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon at wâhkôhtowin School.
CITY COUNCIL RESPONDS
In a news release, Ward 3 Coun. David Kirton and Mayor Clark said they will begin the renaming process at City Council’s June 21, 2021 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting.
“This is just one more small step in the long road to Reconciliation,” Kirton said. “I still continue on a personal journey to understand how the Residential School system affected my family. We cannot hope to achieve reconciliation without taking such actions.”
Kirton will ask administration to begin the process for the name change as a way to acknowledge the ongoing harm in the community experienced by the Residential Schools and the role that John A. Macdonald played in this part of history, the release said.
“It is time to make this change and honour the truths that Residential School Survivors have shared about the impacts of these schools through generations,” Clark said.
“We can work together between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to ensure this is a process that builds understanding of our shared history, while creating a city that reflects the spirit of living in right relations together on this land.”
OTHER REQUESTS RECEIVED
Confederation Park Community Association President Mark Mills also said the time has come for change.
“Macdonald will still be in the history books. But families who live in this neighbourhood should not have to suffer the hurt they feel as they walk or drive down this road every day.”
Other requests for John A. Macdonald Road to be renamed have been received by the City’s Naming Committee.
This proposed name change is the first in a process that is already underway. An interim report with a legacy review of names will be coming for Council consideration in September 2021.
“I will spend the next month engaging with the residents who live on this road in the hopes that we can all find a common understanding of that and to help them smoothly transition to a new, more meaningful address,” Kirton said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada will see a gas price spike, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
It's the biggest election in history. Here's why few Indians in Canada will take part
In the Indian general election that gets underway on Friday, almost a billion people are eligible to vote, but a vast majority of the overseas Indian community in Canada won't be casting a ballot.
McDonald's customers left with 'zero value' collection of free hot drink stickers after company ends program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Jury selection in Trump hush money trial faces pivotal stretch as former U.S. president returns to court
Jury selection in the hush money trial of Donald Trump enters a pivotal and potentially final stretch Thursday as lawyers look to round out the panel of New Yorkers that will decide the first-ever criminal case against a former president.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.