Council wants to confirm the Legion’s support before changing the name of a portion of 11th Avenue.
Council is considering re-naming the section of 11th Avenue between Cedar Street and Shoppers Row to Veteran’s Way to honour our war vets.
The street was chosen because of its proximity to the Royal Canadian Legion and the cenotaph in Spirit Square.
But before jumping in, Coun. Andy Adams first wanted to make sure the legion was okay with the changes. The legion is one of two businesses – Uptown Willie’s and Britches and Hose Vintage Clothing – as well as the Community Centre that is located along the stretch of road in question.
“Just to confirm, this has been endorsed by branch 137, the Campbell River Legion?” Adams asked at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Mayor Walter Jakeway responded that he has talked to several of the members and they’re on board with the name change.
“I know there’s been discussions that they’d like to organize a ceremony when we do it and they’d like to do it early in the week of Remembrance Day,” Jakeway said.
But Adams wanted official confirmation.
“I understand Your Worship there’s a lot of discussion around the coffee table…I’m just wondering what the position of the legion executive and the ladies’ auxiliary executive is and do we know it,” Adams said.
Ron Neufeld, the city’s manager of operations, said he believed the city had made contact but couldn’t say with 100 per cent certainty that the city had received the legion’s support.
“I can’t give you a definitive answer at this point, but we can get an answer if council wants to defer,” Neufeld said.
Council voted unanimously to hold off.
“While I’m supportive of the initiative, I’m going to move deferral pending confirmation of endorsement from the Campbell River Legion,” Adams said.
If council does change the name of part of 11th Avenue, it has two options. One is to legally change the name, but that would be expensive, particularly for the businesses which would face change of address costs.
The other option, which city staff are recommending, is to give the street an honourary name change.
Meaning, street blades could be ordered for $500 with the new name on them as well as the legal name – 11th Avenue. An honourary name change would not affect GPS devices or mailing addresses.
The move to re-name part of 11th Avenue came from Jakeway shortly after last year’s Remembrance Day ceremony.