Regina to rename road after First Nations elder Glen Anaquod

A Regina road could soon have a new name, honouring a First Nations elder.

If city hall approves the plan, the south half of Tower Road, on the city's east edge, will be known as Anaquod Road.

Glen Anaquod was an elder and residential school survivor from the Muscowpetung First Nation who died in 2011.

I was like, 'Wow! This is really amazing.- Glen Anaquod's daughter Gaylene describes her reaction

The name change was on the agenda at the Regina Planning Commission Wednesday afternoon. The administration says the choice of "Anaquod" helps celebrate Regina's cultural development and heritage.

His daughter, Gaylene Anaquod, recalled her surprise when the city contacted her last fall to tell her the road would be renamed in his honour.

"I was like, 'Wow! This is really amazing,'" she said.

Anaquod said her father experienced abuse at the residential school he attended in Lebret, Sask., but kept that inside for many years.

She recalled the day when her father came to visit, visibly upset, and began to share some of his negative experiences.

"I need to let this go," she quoted him as saying.

"I still get emotional this day," she said. "I can't imagine that."

It was his strong faith, First Nations spirituality, that gave him strength and helped him become the man he was meant to be, she said.

Road renaming connected to bypass project

Officials say when the Regina bypass project is complete, the two halves of Tower Road will be separated and aligned differently.

For that reason, it's considered not a problem to give the southern half a new name.

If the planning commission is OK with the change, City council will have final say on Feb. 27.