Photo credit: globalnews.ca
St. Albert Changes Grandin Name to The Gardens
The name “Grandin,” which is prominently featured on buildings, businesses, community centers, and street signs in St. Albert, is set to change to “The Gardens.” This decision followed a vote by the St. Albert city council on Tuesday evening.
Updating the street signs, the Grandin clubhouse, and land titles will incur an estimated cost of approximately $18,600 for the city located north of Edmonton.
Resident Maureen Carew, who lives on Grandin Road, expressed her familiarity with the name, stating, “This area, we just know it as Grandin.” The name was originally derived from Bishop Vital Grandin, the first Roman Catholic Bishop of St. Albert.
However, Grandin’s legacy is complex and controversial because he played a significant role in establishing the Canadian Indian residential school system. These government-sponsored religious institutions were responsible for the distressing separation of thousands of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children from their families and cultures.
St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron noted that discussions regarding Grandin’s problematic history have intensified since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report was released in 2015, which highlighted his involvement.
In light of similar concerns, the Edmonton city council decided unanimously in 2021 to rename the Grandin Light Rail Transit (LRT) station to Government Centre, reflecting a broader recognition of the implications of such names. In addition, Edmonton Catholic Schools renamed Grandin School to Holy Child Catholic Elementary.
Public Consultation and Reaction
In July 2024, the city of St. Albert received an application to strip the name Grandin from all municipal assets. The council voted 5-2 in favor of this removal.
Heron remarked, “The longer this debate drags on, the more harm we’re doing to the indigenous community.” Last month, the city sought to gauge public sentiment regarding a new name and received feedback from the community.
The city reported that 335 residents completed a survey, with 44 percent identifying as Grandin residents. Some community members voiced disappointment with the consultation process; for instance, resident Andriy Cherwick expressed he did not receive notice about the survey. He commented, “We’re going through a time where historical figures have complicated legacies, but they’ve also contributed positively.” Cherwick emphasized the importance of recognizing both aspects of historical figures’ legacies.
Mayor Heron reiterated that removing the name from the neighborhood does not erase Grandin’s contributions, adding that historical data and plaques honoring his legacy will be maintained in the community.
Businesses currently using “Grandin” in their names will have the option to change it. Heron assured that public historical displays along the founders’ walk and in the healing garden, which include Grandin’s name, will remain intact.
Some residents are finding the name change difficult to accept. Maureen Carew, who has lived in the area for about 30 years, reflected on the long-standing association with the Grandin name. “It’s really ingrained in you… I bet you we’ll say the old name and the old area,” she commented.
The community has already been updated to The Gardens on the city’s website, which the mayor described as a name that reflects the area’s green spaces and trees. The transition will formally take place on September 1st, when all city infrastructure and signage will reflect the new name.
Source
globalnews.ca