Women of Winnipeg deserve recognition

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/11/2016 (3486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It looks as if former mayor Susan Thompson will finally get the recognition she deserves. The city’s executive policy committee unanimously supported a motion to name the civic building after her. The credit must go to another woman: Devi Sharma, who has worked tirelessly behind to scenes to move this proposal forward.

In 2013, Margo Goodhand, then-editor of the Free Press, pointed out how Ms. Thompson had been ignored. At that time, there was no park, street, bridge or even back lane named after the former mayor, despite the fact she had served the city for two terms, from 1992 to 1998.

It was only this year Ms. Thompson received the Order of Manitoba. Sam Katz, who was mayor from 2004 until 2014, was honoured in 2004, and Bill Norrie, mayor from 1979 to 1992 was inducted in 2000.

According to a list provided by the city’s archivist, there are currently 14 Winnipeg parks named after women. Former deputy mayor and city councillor Brenda Leipsic has a dog park named after her, as does speedskater Clara Hughes, who won multiple medals in the Winter and Summer Olympics. In a ceremony honouring Ms. Hughes and three other Manitoba Olympic athletes in 2006, Mr. Katz said he now knew how it felt to be “Hugh Hefner.” It seems being a female Olympian can only be significant if it makes a balding, short and old white man feel attractive. But at least he named a park after her.

There are also 31 streets named after women in this city, most of them named after daughters or wives of prominent men. However, three names stand out. Youville Street is named after Sister L’Esperance Youville of the Grey nuns, the first teacher in a school established by Archbishop Taché. Talbot Avenue is named after Alice Talbot, the first principal of Talbot School and wife of Archbishop Matheson. Parker Avenue recognizes journalist Elizabeth Fulton Parker, who assisted in founding the YWCA in Winnipeg, the Women’s Canadian Club and the Alpine Club of Canada, and Warnock Street is named for Sally Warnock, the former president of the Winnipeg Humane Society.

Finally, there are 19 buildings named after women in Winnipeg, many of which recognize early educators or nurses in Winnipeg. Cindy Klassen’s name can be found over the Cindy Klassen Recreation Centre on Sargent Avenue. This also houses the Susan Auch Oval, another civic facility named after a woman.

Soon, Susan Thompson may also find her name over a building, something she says she is honoured to accept on behalf of all women within the City of Winnipeg government. This should be impetus to recognize other female trailblazers in the city such as Jessie Kirk, the first woman on city council in 1920 or Pearl McGonigal who became the first female deputy mayor of Winnipeg (and later the first lieutenant-governor) or Devi Sharma, the first woman to be named Speaker.

Winnipeg’s history includes women. They should be honoured.