City council to consider name change to John A. Macdonald Road next week

A motion to have Saskatoon’s John A. Macdonald Road renamed has passed the first step.

At Monday’s governance and priorities committee meeting, Coun. David Kirton brought forward a motion on the matter. The motion was unanimously approved and is to be considered at next week’s city council meeting.

The motion says the renaming process will include public education, engagement and consultation with Indigenous community leaders.

It adds it’s a way to acknowledge the ongoing harm in the community experienced by the Indian Residential School System (IRSS), and the role that Sir John A. Macdonald — Canada’s first prime minister — played in that part of history.

Kirton said the Macdonald’s name is a trigger for many in the Indigenous community. Kirton added he has spent time speaking with residents in the area to get their feedback on his motion.

“One could look at it as divisive, or one could look at it as a real opportunity to recognize the pain and the suffering many families still feel as a result of the Indian Residential School System,” he said. “And one could look at it as a step towards reconciliation.”

Kirton says he’s pledging to work with residents to make the transition to a new address and new documentation as smooth as possible, adding that Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand will lobby the federal government, Crown corporations and post office to demand that all fees associated with any transition to a newly named road be waived.

Those costs can include passport, driver’s licence and Canada Post fees. More than 60 letters have so far been submitted to the city regarding the name change.