Winnipeg mayor's inner circle rejects call for further name change of Bishop Grandin section
Motion would change name of part of Bishop Grandin, which council previously voted to rename Abinojii Mikanah
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillignham's inner circle rejected a proposal to once again change the name of a section of the street formerly known as Bishop Grandin Boulvard, after the idea drew criticism that it could jeopardize reconciliation efforts.
In March, council unanimously voted to approve renaming Bishop Grandin Boulevard to Abinojii Mikanah, which means "Children's Way" in Anishinaabemowin.
The change came after years of lobbying by First Nations groups. Bishop Vital Grandin, after whom the roadway was named, was an advocate for the creation of Canada's residential school system.
On Tuesday, city council's executive policy committee discussed a motion, brought forward by Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt at council in September, to change the name of a section of Bishop Grandin — running east from Lagimodiere Boulevard to Des Hivernants Boulevard — to Edward Schreyer Parkway South.
Schreyer was premier of Manitoba from 1969 to 1977.
Wyatt had been registered to speak at the meeting Tuesday morning but did not attend.
In a written statement, Wyatt said that section of the road "is about 500 metres and was only built in the last couple of years," and was intended to the be the southern end of the Edward Schreyer Parkway, a stretch of road planned to connect Chief Peguis Trail to Abinojii Mikanah.
"Thus it was a mistake to name it Bishop Grandin in the first place," Wyatt's statement said.
His proposal drew sharp criticism from First Nations groups, with several delegations registered to speak in opposition. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs called a news conference condemning the idea.
Before any delegates spoke at the meeting on Tuesday, Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Sherri Rollins moved a successful motion to deal with Wyatt's proposal first.
The committee then unanimously voted to file the proposal, rather than simply receive the motion as information.
Whereas the latter simply means the committee recommends no further action, the former uses "stronger language" to indicate the committee doesn't agree with the direction of the motion, Gillingham told reporters in a break during the meeting.
The committee rejected the idea out of respect for the work that went into the original decision, Gillingham said.
"It's important because it looks back, acknowledging the harms of residential schools, but it also looks forward and speaks about our commitment to the path of reconciliation. I don't want to see anything jeopardize that decision that we made."
Wyatt's motion will move on to full city council for a final vote next week.
First Nations leaders criticize proposal
While the committee rejected the proposal, First Nations leaders criticized the proposed change at a noon-hour news conference at the RBC Convention Centre.
Nisichawayasihk First Nation Chief Angela Levasseur said northern Cree communities suffered harm while Ed Schreyer was premier in the 1970s, when Manitoba Hydro changed the flow of the Churchill River.
"The people of Nelson House and South Indian Lake never, ever ever gave their consent. And the Ed Schreyer government proceeded with the Churchill River diversion and many other hydroelectric projects that would cause great devastation and suffering that is felt to this day," she said.
WATCH | Executive policy committee rejects name change proposal:
Meanwhile, a report on the costs of the name change from Bishop Grandin Boulevard to Abinojii Mikanah is expected in November.
A city spokesperson says the change is contingent on budget approval, bylaw enactment and ceremony guided by elders, all of which may take several months.
Along with renaming Bishop Grandin Boulevard, council also previously approved renaming Grandin Street in St. Boniface to Taapweewin Way, meaning "truth" in Michif, the ancestral language of the Red River Métis.
Another report on the agenda for next week's Riel Community Committee meeting says changing the name of Grandin Street will cost just under $106,000, with $10,000 going toward compensating property owners for expenses related to the change.
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