A name is an identity, just as much as a face or a fingerprint is, and like all these things, a name tells a story of the past and the present.
Therefore, are we all going let the stories and the memories forged in Fort George Park just fade away?
Changing the name would get rid of all the significance and the history behind our most beloved park.
Firstly, we should all be proud of our history and the name of the park helps us to do just that.
The significance of the name is deeply profound and has meaning for the young and the old.
Simply thinking about it can evoke thoughts from the very beginning of our city, back when it was nothing but a small fur trading post, all the way to recent years when many a glorious and diverse Canada Day had been celebrated there.
It is this widespread significance that makes keeping the name Fort George Park so crucial, because most people in the town can relate to it and feel connected in some way to its history.
Accordingly, is the proposed new name going to have the same significance? Would as many people be able to relate to Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park they are able to relate to Fort George Park now?
I am not saying that we should neglect the native people or what happened to them in the past, but would renaming the park really help to heal those old wounds? While this new name would only hold stories of a horrible past to most, the name Fort George Park holds so much history and so many wonderful memories, for most, of the new and the old. Thus, the park deserves to keep its name, as a tribute to our wonderful city.
Michael Jurjevich
Prince George
