St. Albertans wanted a say in the renaming of not just a street, but three streets, three city parks and facilities, and an entire neighbourhood. This is a significant decision with permanent consequences. Yet, in a 5-2 vote, the majority of council arrogantly dismissed the public’s voice, refusing even to ask for input. Thank you to Councillors Sheena Hughes and Shelley Biermanski for recognizing that the voices of 72,000 residents deserved as much consideration as the 50 people who signed the petition.
To make matters worse, the mayor rushed the motion forward by two weeks—seemingly to limit public awareness and support for a plebiscite on the naming issue. Yet, despite the short notice, the gallery was packed with those who managed to learn about it at the last minute.
A decision of this magnitude should be made with transparency, fairness, and—dare I say—democracy. Contrary to Councillor Wes Brodhead’s claim that the public is not "fully informed" on the issue, I believe St. Albert residents are informed and engaged. At the very least, they should have been asked for their opinion. To deny them that opportunity is disheartening.
This is about more than renaming. It’s about trust in our democratic process. If the city truly valued transparency and fairness, the path was clear. Instead, council voted 5-2 against a plebiscite, a decision seemingly made before the petition was even submitted.
St. Albert residents deserve respect—not to be ignored for political convenience. When will this council stand up for us?
Elizabeth Medwid, St. Albert
