Work continues on the 10th Street Bridge replacement in Owen Sound on the evening of Sept. 15, 2020. (Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting)
Owen Sound city councillors are looking for community feedback on dedicating the new 10th Street Bridge after a 5-4 vote resulted in them declaring Gitche Namewikwedong Bridge as the preferred choice.
The potential name for the 10th Street Bridge is in the Anishinaabemowin language. It translates as Great Sturgeon Bay — the name of Owen Sound and the bay before contact between settlers and Indigenous ancestors.
Susan Staves of the Chippewas of Nawash at Neyaashiinigmiing made a formal request to council to dedicate the new 10th Street Bridge as Gitche Namewikwedong at the Sept. 14 meeting.
Councillors resolved on Monday in a 5-4 recorded vote on Gitche Namewikwedong Bridge as the preferred name, while declaring public comments will be accepted until Oct. 19. Council will finalize their decision after that date.
Coun. Carol Merton moved the recommendation. Several possible amendments were discussed before a point of order was called to vote on the motion.
Councillors Travis Dodd, Scott Greig, John Tamming and Merton supported it. Councillors Brock Hamley, Marion Koepke, Richard Thomas and Deputy Mayor Brian O’Leary voted against it.
Mayor Ian Boddy cast the deciding vote to pass the recommendation.
“Naming of the bridge as (I look at it) is part of the reconciliation process with Saugeen Ojibway Nation that have had an amazing history of people in this place. The same as many people have had an amazing history since,” Boddy says. “It would be nice to recognize that history and start to build on it.”
No city councillor who voted against the motion voiced direct objection to Gitche Namewikwedong Bridge as the preferred name, but raised concerns with a hastened process and expressed their desires for more community consultation.
“From a personal standpoint, I’d like a little more time if I’m going to be the one choosing the name,” Thomas says. “I’d be a lot happier having the public choosing the name rather than the council, because it is a public bridge.”
“… I would like more public input,” continues Thomas. “Recognizing, of course, no matter what we name it, it’s always going to be the 10th Street Bridge for everybody.”
According to a report by Owen Sound’s Director of Public Works and Engineering Dennis Kefalas, staff met to discuss several options for a dedication of the 10th Street Bridge.
In addition to Gitche Namewikwedong Bridge, the other options outlined by staff are: Emancipation Bridge, Centennial Bridge, Reconciliation Bridge and Division Street Bridge.
Kefalas’ report explains Emancipation Bridge was among the options because of the city’s long history running the Emancipation Festival and the fact Owen Sound was the most northerly terminus of the Underground Railroad.
Centennial Bridge is a nod to the city’s 100-year anniversary of incorporation – May 12, 1920. It happens to be the same year, if the project stays on schedule, the new 10th Street Bridge will be completed.
Reconciliation Bridge is “an effort to continue to recognize the negative impact residential schools had on Indigenous people” across Canada, and to help with the healing process, Kefalas’ report explains.
And Division Street Bridge is an option to recognize the fact 10th Street was originally called Division Street. Kefalas’ report notes it was changed in 1909 when Mayor Harrison changed all street names to numbers based on his experience living in New York.
Coun. Travis Dodd asked if a survey option could be put out for the community to offer their preferred name of the new 10th Street Bridge, perhaps even beyond the options included in the staff report.
That idea was discussed while council was considering amendments, but wasn’t included in the motion passed.
Whenever the new 10th Street Bridge name is decided on, a dedication ceremony is expected to be held sometime next spring after the bridge re-opens.
Mayor Boddy notes the bridge construction remains on time at this point. City officials expect it to re-open to traffic by Christmas.
Boddy says anyone who does want to provide feedback on the 10th Street Bridge naming can do so by contacting city councillors.
“If anyone wants to write to council, I would ask that you be a citizen of Owen Sound and identify yourself,” Boddy adds. “We really don’t want to hear anonymous feedback or from citizens elsewhere.”
