Council backs name of memorial park

A standing ovation from union representatives and a thumbs up from Ward 5 Coun. Ron Dupuis signalled the end of a controversy over the naming of a memorial park in Val Caron.

In a recorded vote on Jan. 24, council formalized the Leo Gerard Park, designed as a worker's memorial park where those who have lost their lives on the job will be remembered. Dupuis delivered an emotional speech to his fellow councillors and said from the very beginning of the memorial park project, the goal was to create a place for those people.

Dupuis said despite what others might think, he wasn't trying to manipulate the system when it was learned the proper park-naming procedure had not been followed. At that time, he said the ball had been dropped somewhere along the line, and he was more than willing to correct the situation by allowing the process to take place.

City solicitor Jamie Canapini told council the process leading up to the Jan. 24 meeting was reviewed, and the proper process have been met. That process included a community consultation process through a community meeting and online opportunities.

In a letter to his fellow councillors, dated July 11, 2011, Dupuis writes: “Just want to update you on the park I have been working on for over a year now. The idea of this park is to commemorate workers who have lost their lives on the job.”

Dupuis said it was his understanding the city was taking care of its end in the process, but at the end of the day, that didn't happen. As part of council's acceptance of the park name, staff will develop procedures to “enable clarity in the future application of the bylaw.”

More than 200 people attended the grand opening of the park back in September. Throughout the entire process, Dupuis said the positive feedback far outweighed the negative comments, and that they centred on people's dislike of Gerard.

“There has been a lot of hurtful comments made about Leo Gerard, but whether or not you like him isn't the point,” Dupuis said. “(Leo) has done so much across the world for the labour movement, and he is an adviser to the president of the United States. This is an opportunity to celebrate a Sudbury son, and we can't forget his accomplishments.”

Dupuis said the memorial park has been “tainted” as a result of this process, but the community now has to focus on moving past the issue and take pride in the project, which contains a plaque bearing the names of more than 100 workers.

High praise from the rest of council was “very moving” and “appreciated,” Dupuis said.

“It puts a positive end to something that has been very stressful," he said.

Steelworkers Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand said with council's decision, “Finally, we can move on.”

“We've been waiting for this for quite a while, it was the right thing to do, and my hat goes off to Ron Dupuis and council for unanimously voting in favour of this – you couldn't ask for a better name than Leo Gerard.

“There will always be someone with something to say, and we now we won't be able to please everyone, but whether or not you like (Leo Gerard), he's done what he's done, and that's a lot for our community, Canada and workers around the globe. This is a victory for everyone, because this is a place for families who have lost loved ones to come and reflect in peace.”

Posted by Arron Pickard