Ottawa park to be renamed in honour of Gov. Gen. Mary Simon

Move in recognition of leadership, dedication to fostering ‘greater understanding and appreciation of Indigenous cultures’

Ottawa city council voted Wednesday to rename a municipal park in honour of Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, seen here during a speech this year in Iqaluit on Nunavut Day, July 9. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)

By Nunatsiaq News

A city park in Ottawa will be renamed to honour Gov. Gen. Mary Simon.

In a unanimous vote Wednesday, Ottawa city council approved the motion by Rideau-Jock Coun. David Brown to rename the park.

Whitewood Park, located at 5490 Whitewood Ave. in the Manotick area of Ottawa, is being renamed Mary Simon Park to “recognize her outstanding contributions to Canada and celebrate her legacy as an advocate for Indigenous Peoples.”

“Mary Simon has been a tireless advocate for Indigenous rights, education and reconciliation which has strengthened relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Canada,” the motion read.

Simon was born in Kangiqsualujjuaq in Nunavik and is the first Indigenous person to hold the office as the Crown’s representative in Canada. She became Canada’s 30th Governor General on July 26, 2021.

Nunatsiaq News contacted the offices of both Brown and Simon for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

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(14) Comments:

  1. Posted by 867 on

    Way to go ottawa more virtue signaling. Food costs are thru the roof ,nobody can afford rent and crime is at an all time high, but hey at least we’re renaming streets and parks

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    • Posted by Real Sluffi on

      I find it difficult to believe you don’t know what ‘whataboutism’ is. It’s not a flattering look.

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      • Posted by What about ism on

        Its literally a random park in the middle of nowhere surrounded by a few million dollar homes. Virtue signalling at its finest.

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        • Posted by alex on

          Most Governor Generals have parks or places named after them, how is this virtue signalling?

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          • Posted by 867 on

            Same city that renamed several parks for reasons unknown, some even named after homeless people. Also renamed the ottawa River parkway to a name that nobody can pronounce.

            Yes, rename a park after her excellency, but at least give her the decency of having a park that people will actually visit. Plug in 5490 whitewood Ave into Google maps, it is litrally an unknown park in the middle of nowhere.

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            • Posted by alex on

              I appreciate your opinion, but your combining all sorts of different jurisdiction. The city of Ottawa doesn’t control the parkways and their names. That is the NCC.
              Regardless of that, you’re original statement was that why should the City of Ottawa spend time renaming a park with all the other issues out there, where most of them aren’t even a City or Municipality jurisdiction, but a provincial and Federal one.
              We get it, you don’t want anything in Ottawa to be named after Indigenous people.

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    • Posted by bob on

      Why are people so short sighted? It is possible for Government to do multiple things, including working on poverty reducing initiatives, introducing gun laws, increasing military wages AND naming parks. And for grocery prices??….government has little impact on the greed of companies. Capitalism will take profits over basic needs any day.

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  2. Posted by Nunavut on

    Can you tell carney to start what he promised to all Canadians.

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    • Posted by Yeah but… on

      This has nothing to do with the federal government. It’s the City of Ottawa’s decision…

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  3. Posted by KUUJJUAQ on

    All right , Mary , Lets make the park great agian .

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  4. Posted by Northener on

    Well that makes 1 out of 45.5 million canadians happy, yay 🙄

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  5. Posted by Elmo on

    Why?🤯

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  6. Posted by Nunavimiuk on

    Wonder , if , i go to ottawa , can , i bring my canvas tent and coleman stove and pitch it there in order save money on my hotel bill . will bring my own caribou meat.

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  7. Posted by John on

    The issue is this. Spend less time and energy on virtue signalling and more time and energy on things that actually matter.

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