Future of ‘Iroquois’ in names of Oakville sites pushed off for several years
Published April 29, 2024 at 1:50 pm
A recent controversial decision by the Halton District School Board to remove the word ‘Iroquois’ from the name of an Oakville high school is having ramifications on the the Town.
According to a park-naming report that will be discussed at tonight’s (April 29) council meeting, the school board’s decision has prompted questions around Town sites that also use the word Iroquois.
“The Town has a woodlot named Iroquois Shoreline Woods as well as Indian Ridge Trail, and there are other town uses of Iroquois Ridge Community Centre and Iroquois Shore Road,” reads the report.
“The town’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Plan (IDEA plan) has identified the need to review the town’s policy on naming town facilities, streets and parks. It will be through the research and community/partner consultation on this policy that the use of the word Iroquois will be evaluated. This work is planned for completion in 2026-27.”
In addition to outlining that timeframe, several parks and open spaces in Oakville will also be getting their official new names at tonight’s meeting.
In some instances, parkland has been named in recognition of a particular person or families that were pioneer settlers in Oakville and community leaders at the time. In other cases, parkland, ponds trails or walkways have been named after the adjacent road.
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Here are the new park names:
- Bronte Market Square, 2445 Lakeshore Rd. W. – Located within Bronte Village and will be a focal gathering location for the community
- Village Parkette, 2424 Sovereign St.
- Shevchenko Park, 1350 Shevchenko Blvd.
- Sixteen Mile Valley
- Courtleigh Trail Park
- William Cutmore Park
- Wheat Boom Park
- Meadowridge Pond, 3040 Meadowridge Rd.