EPC rejects motion to rename piece of recently renamed route

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This article was published 17/10/2023 (741 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City council’s most powerful committee has rejected a call to further rename a section of Bishop Grandin Boulevard, amid intense criticism doing so would undermine reconciliation efforts.

In March, Winnipeg city council unanimously approved changing the name of Route 165 to Abinojii Mikanah. Bishop Vital-Justin Grandin’s (1829-1902) was a vocal supporter of the residential school system.

On Tuesday, the executive policy committee unanimously voted to “file and not proceed” with the motion by Coun. Russ Wyatt that called to rename a recently built stretch east from Lagimodière Boulevard as “Edward Schreyer Parkway South.” The decision still requires a final council vote.

EPC had bumped the matter to the top of its agenda to deal with it first.

Mayor Scott Gillingham told media the committee wanted to send a clear message it doesn’t support the change.

“We stand in support of the renaming of Bishop Grandin to Abinojii Mikanah… We made the change in name as a matter of a step of reconciliation. We’re serious about that,” he said.

Wyatt’s motion had triggered opposition from Indigenous leaders and the Welcoming Winnipeg committee of community members, which had recommended the Abinojii Mikanah name.

“This name was a result of an elders council made up of (Indian residential school) survivors and intergenerational survivors who poured their heart and soul into this sensitive renaming process. Taking away a portion of this significance would show colossal disrespect to them and the children who did not make it home,” Welcoming Winnipeg chairwoman Reanna Merasty wrote.

Merasty said the recent proposal would “chip away at Indigenous representation.”

Several Indigenous leaders held a Tuesday news conference on the matter, also speaking out against Wyatt’s motion.

“It really hurt our hearts that we were not even considered when these discussions were taking place,” Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick said.

Merrick applauded the EPC decision to uphold the previously planned name for the entire route. “In doing so, they continue to remain on the right side of history.”

In an interview, Wyatt (Transcona) said Schreyer, 87, greatly contributed to Manitoba, including by establishing ice roads to northern First Nations and supporting Cree and Ojibway education.

The councillor said the section in question should never have been named Bishop Grandin Boulevard to begin with, because it’s part of a route the City of Winnipeg previously planned to name after Schreyer.

The councillor stressed he strongly supports labelling the rest of the route as Abinojii Mikanah, but feels the newer section could still honour Schreyer, who served as premier of Manitoba (1969-77) and governor general of Canada (1979-84).

Wyatt rejected concerns his proposal would damage reconciliation efforts.

“It (would only change the name for) 500 metres. Nobody’s talking about the other five kilometres that is (currently part of) Bishop Grandin,” he said.

Meanwhile, city council could earmark at least $106,000 to cover costs related to renaming Grandin Street to Taapweewin Way.

A new report seeks council approval to refer that funding request to the city’s next budget. The report notes the amount could still change as the city awaits feedback on direct costs that could be claimed by residents and businesses, which can include replacing stationery and updating websites to reflect the new address.

Gillingham said the cost to change the name of the much larger Bishop Grandin Boulevard will be released in a report next month.

The mayor added it’s not yet clear when the new name will officially be in place.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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