The Naming Committee will recommend that St. Albert city council remove the Grandin name from municipal assets during the March 18 council meeting, and documents within the agenda reveals the potential names it could be replaced with, should council vote to change it.
A memo to council written by Suzanne Ruegg, planning and naming committee clerk, said a request was received in July 2024 to remove the name Grandin from all municipal assets.
"The Grandin name should be removed as it evokes continued recognition of a residential school system that caused great harm and intergenerational pain and trauma to Indigenous, Metis and Inuit people. Bishop Grandin is regarded as one of the primary individuals responsible for the establishment of the Indian Residential School system in Canada, an institutional regime that has been recognized by the Catholic Church and recently Pope Francis as an act of cultural genocide against indigenous people," the request said.
"The name Grandin has become inextricably connected to the residential school system. Regardless of the original intentions, these institutions, and their legacies, have had a negative inter-generational impact on Indigenous Peoples," Ruegg wrote, explaining why the application met the criteria for the city's Municipal Naming Policy and Name Removal Criteria.
A report entitled "Renaming Grandin Community What We Heard Report Public Engagement Insights on Potential Name Changes and Community Perspectives" reveals more information about what the city heard during their public engagement sessions.
The report states that the Naming Committee received 335 responses and reviewed 94 individual names. Of the 335 responses the city received, 149 of those were from Grandin residents, and 153 were from other St. Albert residents.This amounted to 97 per cent of total respondents.
Of the names reviewed, The Gardens/Garden was suggested most frequently, with 28 suggestions. Including Gardenia added another five. Grand received the second most suggestions with 11. Other common suggestions included Grosvenor (10), Ghostkeeper (7), and Goldenrod (6).
The report also includes anonymous quotes and comments from respondents, with profane or offensive language omitted. Some had concerns about erasing history or the financial burden of the name change.
"What about reprinting all my business cards, marketing materials, and licensing? Will the City help at all?" one respondent wrote. In a letter sent to Grandin Road, Grandin Lane, and Grandin Place residents, the city of St. Albert said they would cover the land title for potential address changes. It also said the City of St. Albert is "exploring ways to minimize [the] cost for residents" for organizations where there is a small fee to change your address.
Other comments were from residents who wanted to keep the name, potentially as a way to preserve the history.
"Grandin Road is part of the history of St Albert and will always be in its history. Please keep history and its name," one respondent said.
“We should teach the history of the name and leave it as is. At least people can see and remember it happened, rather than rename and forget," another said.
At the end of the memo, the naming committee recommends that the city remove the name Grandin from all municipal assets, and the neighbourhood be renamed to The Gardens. Some variations of the name include Garden Ridge, Garden Estates or Garden District.
"This name Aligns with St. Albert’s “Botanical Arts City” brand (flora, fauna, natural elements), supports our motto of cultivate life, as well as continues naming theme (i.e., “G” name). Gardens are a common part of family homes, both historically and contemporary, being a place for families and friends to work together, share their bounty, spark conversations and bring people together. Kitchen gardens were often found outside Metis homes, and are a strong cultural influence in St. Albert," Ruegg wrote.
Council will hear the background information provided and decide what to do with the Grandin neighbourhood name during the March 18 city council meeting.
