A formal request has been submitted to rename Percy Park after Claude Charbonneau, a community leader credited with contributing significantly to his community.
The Labourers’ International Union of North America submitted the request on June 23, and have proposed a name of Parc Claude Charbonneau Park.
Charbonneau was a volunteer at Percy Park after moving to the area in 1988 and, for much of that time, was also Neighbourhood Playground President.
“He is behind several fundraising campaigns, Healthy Community Initiative Fund grants, large capital campaigns to improve the Percy Park fieldhouse and rebuild the outdoor rink with new asphalt and basketball courts, and the creation of the Percy Park Youth Sports Program to ensure neighbourhood children have access to organized recreation activities close to home,” according to a media release issued by the city.
Charbonneau received the City of Greater Sudbury Civic Award in 2008, the June Callwood Award for an Outstanding Volunteer in 2016, and was a CP Rail Vancouver Olympics Ambassador in 2010.
He worked as a train conductor for the Canadian Pacific Railway for 37 years before retiring in 2014.
Upon relocating to the Flour Mill neighbourhood, where he grew up, Charbonneau helped improve the park field house alongside volunteers.
“What has resonated with me over the years is that when you take care of your neighbourhood playground and add activities, residents come together,” Charbonneau told Sudbury.com in 2020.
“At Percy, we adults use the field house and gazebo as a meeting place for our Flour Mill Community Action Network (FM-CAN) meetings and we bring neighbourhood issues to the city’s attention.
“Getting together like this also gives residents an opportunity to get to know one another better and commit to keeping a watchful eye over our neighbourhood. We have each others’ backs because of that camaraderie and common purpose.”
The park was named after Percy L. Johns, who donated land for the park in 1941. According to the city’s media release, the Johns family supports renaming the park.
Those interested in commenting on the proposed renaming of Percy Park can submit their feedback at overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca before Sept. 14.
The park’s renaming will also be the focus of a community meeting at Percy Park (600 Percy Ave.) on Sept. 1 from 6-7:30 p.m.
To learn more about the city’s naming policy, click here.
