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A common front unites against the place name change proposal of de Bleury-du Parc
PRESS RELEASE OF JANUARY 17
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
REACTION FOLLOWING THE MEETING OF THE COMMISSION DE TOPONYMIE DU QUÉBEC ON THE PLACE NAME CHANGE OF DE BLEURY-DU PARC
Montreal, January 17, 2007 – Les Amis de la montagne, Héritage Montréal and the Fédération des sociétés d'histoire du Québec were interested to learn of the decision by the Commission de toponymie du Québec to pursue its deliberations concerning the Ville de Montreal’s proposal to change the de Bleury-du Parc place names in honour of former Premier Robert Bourassa.
The Commission de toponymie met yesterday afternoon in Quebec City to evaluate the proposed name change, a proposal that has generated significant controversy since last September.
Upon reading the press release issued January 17 by the Commission, the heritage organizations appreciated that the Commission clearly reiterated its mandate to preserve place names with cultural and historic value.
Les Amis de la montagne, Héritage Montréal and the Fédération des sociétés d'histoire du Québec were also pleased that the Commission extended an indirect invitation to the Ville de Montréal to collaborate on the dossier, citing that both public administrations share the jurisdiction.
During a press conference held January 11, the common front of heritage organizations submitted a joint request to the Commission. The two-part request was as follows:
- To not render official the place name change « Rue de Bleury » and « Avenue du Parc » (in part) for « Avenue Robert-Bourassa » given the heritage value and current use of these existing place names and the vigorous controversy generated by the Ville de Montreal’s proposal, which demonstrates the inadequacy of the commemoration, as well as the contradiction in principle with an honourable and intransient commemoration.
- To invite the Ville de Montréal to re-examine the question with the help of its Conseil du patrimoine, in order to arrive at a place name commemoration proposal for former Premier Robert Bourassa that is better received by the population and that respects the published criteria adhered to by the Commission de toponymie.
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Source / information:
Gabrielle Korn
Director of Communications
Les Amis de la montagne
(514) 843-8240 ext. 237
PRESS RELEASE OF JANUARY 11
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
A COMMON FRONT ASKS THE COMMISSION DE TOPONYMIE DU QUÉBEC NOT TO MAKE THE DE BLEURY / DU PARC NAME CHANGE OFFICIAL
MONTREAL, January 11, 2007 – A common front of organizations and citizens concerned with heritage issues made a joint request to the Quebec Commission de toponymie to not make the Rue de Bleury-Avenue du Parc name change official during a press conference today.
The Commission de toponymie is meeting on January 16th to evaluate the name change proposal, a change that continues to generate controversy in the community.
The request by the common front to the Commission is based upon the importance of place names in our collective heritage, as well as the consultation and participatory process in which decisions of city-wide impact are taken.
“Avenue du Parc is an historic name that weaves the fabric of our city,” said Phyllis Lambert, Founding Director and President of the Fiduciary Board of the Canadian Centre for Architecture. “By imposing a name change on Avenue du Parc, the Mayor of Montreal, in a way, denies his commitment towards a greater transparency in the decision-making process and reveals, by way of this gesture, relics of former regimes that we thought long gone and that augurs badly for the future.”
According to Denis Hardy, chairman of the heritage committee of the Fédération des sociétés d’histoire du Québec, “The name of a Prime Minister who contributed as much to Quebec as did Robert Bourassa is worthy of being remembered by future generations through a place name or other form of recognition. However, the creation of new place names should not be made to the detriment of existing place names, often little known through a lack of knowledge of our history. Not only is the proposed name change null and void, but it risks the creation of a dangerous occurrence in all of Quebec.”
“Héritage Montréal considers that place names are a component of society’s cultural heritage,” said Pierre-André Ouimet, President of the organization. “As stated in the City of Montreal’s Heritage Policy, we need to ensure the permanence of our heritage and its appropriation by the community. The experiences drawn from many great cities around the world offer inspiring models that reconcile the conservation of existing place names and the commemoration of individuals who mark current history.”
According to Peter A. Howlett, President of Les Amis de la montagne, “The creation of Mount Royal Park 130 years ago was the result of a citizens’ movement. Avenue du Parc is a commemoration of this important contribution by the community. It is also the place name that has been appropriated by the different cultural communities that have established themselves over the course of the last century along its footprint to form a unique cultural landscape in this Quebec metropolis.”
The common front invites the community to express its disagreement with the Rue de Bleury/Avenue du Parc name change in writing to the Commission de toponymie before January 16. For instructions on how to do so, please visit Les Amis de la montagne’s website at www.lemontroyal.qc.ca.
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Source / information:
Gabrielle Korn
Director of Communications
Les Amis de la montagne
(514) 843-8240 ext. 237
JOINT REQUEST TO THE COMMISSION DE TOPONYMIE
- To not render official the place name change « Rue de Bleury » and « Avenue du Parc » (in part) for « Avenue Robert-Bourassa » given the heritage value and current use of these existing place names and the vigorous controversy generated by the Ville de Montreal’s proposal, which demonstrates the inadequacy of the commemoration, as well as the contradiction in principle with an honourable and intransient commemoration.
- To invite the Ville de Montréal to re-examine the question with the help of its Conseil du patrimoine, in order to arrive at a place name commemoration proposal for former Premier Robert Bourassa that is better received by the population and that respects the published criteria adhered to by the Commission de toponymie.
LETTERS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMON FRONT TO THE COMMISSION DE TOPONYMIE
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