Over the past weeks and months, I have seen a lot of commentary about the renaming of the Grandin (now The Gardens) neighbourhood. Lots of my fellow neighbours have expressed sadness and frustration over the change.
Friends and neighbours, I understand your feelings. This neighbourhood has been a part of our home and community since its development in the 1950s. I don't believe we are associating the name "Grandin" with the man, but rather with the place. The memories. The feelings. And so I understand your disappointment — anger, even — with the change.
Some of us have it worse than others, like changing addresses. I know that is a cumbersome experience. Luckily, I noticed in the Gazette that provincial registries are required to waive the associated fees, and council has allocated $20,000 to help residents with further costs associated with the changes. I am also happy that the new name starts with a G, and that it gives a nod to our "Botanical City" nickname.
I am reminded of our neighbouring community to the East, Sherwood Park, which used to be called Campbelltown until 1956. This change occurred because of too many similar named communities already existing across Canada and abroad. Under a similarly heavy-handed approach, Canada Post would not approve the name "Campbelltown" due to clerical convenience. I was not alive then, but my grandparents' current home still stands on one of the original streets of Campbelltown.The memories and feelings will always be there. History will not be erased.
Bishop Vital Grandin has a difficult legacy, one which we in St. Albert must reckon with. Yes, he helped establish many communities (especially francophone) across Alberta. He is even buried here in St. Albert. The man and his history cannot be erased. But on the other hand, speaking about the goal of residential schools, he wrote: “We will instill in [Indigenous people] a pronounced distaste for [their] kind of life, so that they are humiliated when reminded of their origins.”
Do we really want St. Albert's legacy to be associated with this kind of speech?
As William Shakespeare once wrote: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Our neighbourhood, formerly known as Grandin, will continue to exist with the same places, the same memories, the same spirit as it always has. We can move on and continue to cherish this place we call home, regardless of the name.
Nick Cooley, St. Albert
