Winnipeg wants input on colonial monuments, markers, place names

Winnipeg is seeking public input on the future of old statues, monuments, plaques and place names that only reflectcolonial views ofthe city's past.

The city wants to develop a framework to deal with historical markers that do not reflect Indigenous perspectives, such as a Main Street statue commemorating soldiers who fought against Louis Riel and suppressed Mtis resistance.

Mayor Brian Bowman saysWinnipeg needs a policy moving forward after Victoria, B.C., made a snap decision in 2018 to remove a statue of John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, from its city hall.

• John A. Macdonald statue removed from Victoria City Hall

That move that was praised for furthering reconciliation efforts but also criticized for erasing a piece of Canadian history.

Bowman says while is personally opposed to removing monuments, he wants to know what Winnipeggers think so the city can have a policy in place before any decisions must be made.

"For some, the names andmonumentsdisproportionatelyrepresent aspects of our sharedhistorythat make many in ourcommunityfeelmarginalizedandforgotten. Forothers, the names andmonumentscelebrate progress," Bowman said.

The mayor says the city has to consider all perspectives as part of its reconciliation efforts.

To this end, the city is inviting input at winnipeg.ca/welcomingwinnipeg and holding apanel discussion at the University of Winnipeg on March 13.

The mayorsayswhile he is aware this process is not one of Winnipeg's top priorities, it is nonetheless important.

Bowman also notesWolseley Avenue and the Wolseley neighbourhood are named after Sir Garnet Wolseley, the Canadian army officer who suppressed Riel's Red River Resistance in 1870.