FORT FRANCES, Ont. – Colonization Road is no more in Fort Frances.
Town council on Monday voted to change the name of Colonization Road East to Agamiing to honour Anishinaabe people in the areas and Colonization Road West to Sunset Road as a nod to both the region and the Sunset Country Métis community in the area.
“Tonight council took a step toward building a more inclusive Fort Frances. We did that by replacing symbols of systemic racism with signposts of our commitment to reconciliation, and of the vital role Indigenous people will play in our path forward as a community,” said Coun. Douglas Judson.
Posted: May 11, 2021 2:15 PM ET | Last Updated: May 11
Two new names have been chosen to replace Colonization Road in Fort Frances, Ont., as of Monday night, marking the end of a long consultation process among the town and its residents.
The east section of the road will be renamed Agamiing Drive, Anishinaabemowin for at the shore , while the west section of the road will be renamed Sunset Drive. Tonight, council took a step toward building a more inclusive Fort Frances. We did that by replacing symbols of systemic racism with signposts of our commitment to reconciliation, and of the vital role Indigenous people will play in our path forward as a community, reads a written statement from town councillor Douglas Judson, issued Monday night.
Staff Writer
memara@fortfrances.com
Fort Frances council is expected to make a vote and choose two different names for Colonization Road East and Colonization Road West next Monday.
On Monday, the Planning and Development Executive Committee agreed on nine names that will be presented to council in order to vote on two names to replace Colonization Road East and Colonization Road West.
Members of the committee agreed to have different names for both roads to avoid confusion for emergency and ambulance personnel as they are not connected to each other.
Colonization Road East will be renamed to one of the following five names: Agamiing (at the shore) Drive, Shoreline Drive, Harmony Drive, Nibi (water) Drive or Sunrise Drive.
17 March 2021
On Monday the Planning and Development Executive Committee unanimously voted for the recommendation to rename Colonization Road West and Colonization Road East.
Prior to voting, the committee were presented with a tally of the feedback from members of the community.
Cody Vangel, chief building official and municipal planner, said they have close to 45 responses since administration was authorized to go forward with the consultation process.
According to the report submitted by Vangel, out of the submitted responses there were only a select few that stated outright objections to the name change.
Coun. Douglas Judson brought this issue before council last year and has been vocal about why it is high time that the name gets changed.
FORT FRANCES, Ont. The Town of Fort Frances is moving closer toward the renaming of Colonization Road.
The municipality s Planning and Development Executive Committee voted Monday to recommend to the full council that it proceed with renaming both Colonization Road West and Colonization Road East.
The vote followed the presentation of a staff report outlining the feedback from a consultation brochure that was distributed to town residents.
According to the report, many of the 37 responses support the name change, and only a select few stated outright objections. Many respondents expressed concern for the Town s image perception in the eyes of others if change is not initiated, the report says.