St. Albert Council will soon be deciding whether to rename City assets that are currently named after Bishop Grandin. The administrative recommendation is to rename the neighbourhood to The Gardens and replace “Grandin” with “Garden” for the other streets/assets. I wanted to have this discussion a few years ago, but the thought at the time was that our entire naming conventions need a re-write - Which was true, and we approved a new policy that reflects current values after extensive research and community consultation earlier this term. Through our new policy, we clarified how renaming of City assets could occur, which could include a request from the community that is evaluated based on whether the existing name meets criteria set out in the policy:
Refers to current or historic persons known for their discriminatory views or actions, including committing or perpetuating acts of racism, violence, and/or harm;
Includes derogatory terms that might represent or be linked with discriminatory views and actions;
Negatively represents any group or its culture;
Is inconsistent with City’s membership in the Coalition for Inclusive Municipalities, and the City’s Diversity and Inclusion Declaration; or
Brings the City of St. Albert into disrepute.
The following touches on some of the considerations I’ve made in preparation for this vote.
On the history of renaming
Back in 2007 when Edmonton renamed St. Albert Trail, there were many objections about the change because of “history”. Other names changes that have happened in and around St. Albert include:
Ecole Marie Poburan - named after my kindergarden principal - being changed to Ecole Holy Family.
Grandin School in St. Albert and the Grandin LRT Station in Edmonton.
Mayfair Park being renamed Hawrelak Park.
Riverside Park in Edmonton was renamed Queen Elizabeth Park in 1939.
Portage Avenue in Edmonton to Kingsway Avenue around 1939, too.
My connection with the Grandin neighbourhood
My father was raised in Grandin. My grandmother, as a teacher, taught a generation of St. Albert kids how to read in a Grandin neighbourhood school. My first St. Albert home was in Grandin Village. My grandfather left his Grandin Road home for the last time by Stars Air Ambulance and my grandmother died while still living in her Grandin Road home. My father died in a St. Albert motel shortly after moving out of that home. And you know what? Despite my family’s long connection with the Grandin neighbourhood and Grandin Road, I know that this naming decision has nothing to do with us, and will have no impact on the memories I have of growing up biking Grandin streets or visiting my grandparents in their Grandin homes.
How does this request meet the criteria for renaming?
City staff have provided a explanation of how the Grandin name meets the criteria for renaming:
“Information provided in the application, as well as information found in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report, indicated that Bishop Vital Grandin campaigned for residential schools in Canada, and regularly lobbied the federal government for funding of these schools. His idea was that of boarding schools for Indigenous children, which would teach practical knowledge and trades, but also to assimilate Indigenous children into western culture, removing the connection to their own language and culture. These boarding schools were modelled after a juvenile reformatory prison in France which Bishop Grandin had visited.
The name Grandin has become inextricably connected to the residential school system. Regardless of Bishop Grandin’s original intentions, these institutions, and their aftermath, have had a negative inter-generational impact on Indigenous Peoples in Canada. The name Grandin is a constant reminder of the residential school system for those who have been hurt by that legacy… For a great many Survivors, talking about their experiences in residential schools means reliving the traumas they experienced. For years, many told no one about what they had endured.”
Financial Implications(~$18,000)
I made the mistake last week of peeking into social media to see what folks are saying about this proposal. To say there is misinformation about the cost of the change floating around out there is an understatement. I’m horrified. The actual cost breakdowns are described in our administrative backgrounder:
“Canada Post - Has confirmed that changing addresses in their system takes 3-6 months. They will send out a letter advising residents of their new address and the implementation date. CP will also deliver any mail with the old address to the new address for one year, without any mail forwarding fees.
Service Alberta (Registries) - Has confirmed that residents can provide to registries either the Municipal letter or Canada Post letter confirming the address change. No government fees will be charged, but the registry agent may charge a service fee.
The maximum service fee for a driver’s license is $13, for an identification card is $9, and for a passenger vehicle registration is $13 (per the registry agent product catalogue).
Land Titles Office - A change of address on a title is free for the first title, and $2 per additional title. A copy of the necessary form has been provided to residents, with the information that if their addresses do change, they can return their forms to the City. The City will ensure they are registered, and will cover the cost.
Signage - Street signs - approximately $6,000, Grandin Clubhouse sign - approximately $10,000 to $12,500, Grandin Nature Park - the signage in the park is due for replacement… A new name can be accommodated within this already approved budget, Grandin Ravine - no signage to replace.”
St. Albert’s commitment to Reconciliation
One of the strategies in St. Albert’s Strategic Plan says that we will “Continue to support and collaborate on Indigenous-led initiatives to better develop meaningful relationships, honour truth, and action reconciliation”. In responding to a handful of residents opposing a name change, City staff did a great job of reminding all of us that Call to Action #57 of the TRC reposrt specifically emphasizes the responsibility of municipalities to educate themselves and the public on the history and lasting impacts of theresidential school system. They also pointed out that the TRC expressly rejected revisionist narratives that attempt to reframe residential schools as beneficial institutions, emphasizing that "for over a century, the central goals of Canada’s Indigenous policy were to eliminate Indigenous governments, ignore Indigenous rights, terminate the Treaties, and through a process of assimilation, cause Indigenous peoples to cease to exist as distinct legal, social, cultural, religious, and racial entities in Canada." (TRC Final Report, Vol. 1, p. 3).
“Garden” Recommendation
Thanks to everyone who provided recommendations for the new name! My recommendations - plants & animals - didn’t make the top recommendation, but the top recommendation of “Garden” certainly fits with the character of the neighbourhood and city. I also have no objections to other top proposed names - Gadwall, Gardenia, Ghostkeeper, Gladstone, Goldenrod, Gooseberry, or Goslingapart - from a strong preference that we stop naming assets after people.
This is a brief and incomplete overview of our meetings, with my personal comments sprinkled in - In no way are my opinions representative of the official direction of council or the City of St. Albert. Please let me know of any typos or errors. Members of the public can register to speak if they have information to present to council. Full agenda packages can be found on the stalbert.ca website.
