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
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.