‼️CALL TO ACTION‼️
FRIENDS, the City of Owen Sound is trying to erase another piece of Canadian history by renaming Ryerson Park. This is part of a growing trend across the country where monuments are removed, streets are renamed, and our past is being rewritten. If we don’t stand up for our history, culture, and identity, it will be lost.
Copied from Dominion Society:
dominionsociety.ca/
This past weekend, activists mobilized in Owen Sound as City Council moves forward with renaming the park. The City originally made the decision in 2021, during the height of the residential school controversy, to strip the park of its name, and now they are moving ahead with replacing it. We disagree with this decision. Egerton Ryerson was a key figure in establishing universal education in Canada, something that generations have benefited from and continue to rely on today.
The proposed replacement names do little to reflect meaningful local or national significance, including Old School Park, Eighth Street Park, Boyd Street Park, and Ningaawendam Miikana, which translates to “Friendship Land” in Anishinaabe. It is likely this last option will be selected unless people speak up.
Rather than simply opposing the change, a constructive proposal was put forward to rename the park in honour of Billy Bishop, Owen Sound’s greatest son. Born in Owen Sound in 1894, Bishop became a First World War flying ace with 72 aerial victories, making him the top pilot in the British Empire. He represents courage, skill, and national pride, and his legacy aligns naturally with a park setting where imagination, exploration, and growth take place every day.
This effort has gone beyond online discussion. The proposal was presented directly to City Council, residents were engaged in person, and the issue was covered by local media including the Owen Sound Sun Times and the Owen Sound Current. Now, the City is asking for public input, and there is still time to be heard before the May 4 deadline.
Have your say here 👉👉👉:
owensound.ca/news-and-public…
Let’s send a clear message that our history should not be erased, but recognized and honoured properly.