On my frequent walks along the river I go past a small, but official-looking sign on the edge of the old river-bed not far from the railway crossing. The sign proclaims that this is the site of a future city park and that its name shall be Millenium Park. I don't know which, if any millennium it will be celebrating, nor how the name was so definitely chosen. I think the city can do better, name-wise, that is.
I suggest that since this is somewhere close to the site of the first bridge across the Sturgeon that the park should be re-named accordingly. It is most unlikely that another bridge will be built so let’s mark a major site in St Albert's history by naming the park with a fitting name.
The first bridge across the Sturgeon gave easy access to trade (and travellers) going north on the trade route from Fort Edmonton to, well, all the way north. Equally, of course it gave access for northern traders, and travellers from the north going through or to Fort Edmonton and beyond. In other words this was a major trade route in its day. With the bridge horses could walk across the river instead of the alternative. Goods didn't have be swum across either.
This worked in both directions.
This was also a direct link between the outside world of supplies and personnel coming and going to and from Father Lacombe's newly established church complex on the north side. The Sturgeon River flood of 1862 made the building of a bridge an imperative. When he announced his plan to build a bridge he promised free crossings for all those who helped.
When it was completed Father Lacombe called it “une marveille”– another possible name for the park would be Une Marveille Park.
Since we are naming a park, can it include a reference to the importance of the Crossing. If so then I would suggest something like the following three names: First Crossing Park, Bridge-over Park or First Bridge Park.
Dave Geddes, St. Albert
(780-459-3654)
#203-37 Churchill Ave, St Albert. <[email protected]>
