The City of Dryden is parting ways with the name Colonization Avenue.
The north end of the road will soon be known as Boozhoo Avenue, while the south section will be renamed Memorial Avenue.
The Working Circle picked two names at the request of first responders to make it easier to respond to an emergency in a timely manner.
Co-Chair Shayne MacKinnon says Boozhoo is Ojibway for ‘Welcome’.
“Very visible to our visitors as it crosses Highway 17. So folks coming through our community will see that avenue. Folks visiting our community will see that avenue. Recognizes the Indigenous population.”
MacKinnon adds, “Colonization Avenue North services a growing area and the new industrial areas where certainly we all know that there’s potential for growth and that growth is being realized in many ways.”
Co-Chair Cheryl Edwards explains the reasoning behind Memorial Avenue.
“Pays tribute to those community members who have passed and how we came together to make a historic and positive change for Dryden. This also pays tribute to first responders, police and volunteers who have dedicated their lives to providing emergency services.”
Edwards says, “It also pays tribute to the Indigenous ancestors who are and were caretakers of this area, its beauty and its promise.”
She adds Memorial recognizes the past tragedies of the residential schools and of murdered and missing Indigenous women.
Council is in full support of the new names and will make it official on April 26.
The Working Circle says they received some 400 names from community members and narrowed the selection down to 265.
The volunteer group conducted education campaigns and consultations with impacted residents.
Edwards says they wanted two names that were dignified, meaningful to all and easy to pronounce and spell.
MacKinnon notes there was little debate among Working Circle members and they are all proud of their work and recommendations.
He adds they believe the names will serve our community well into the future.
Final list of names short-listed by the Working Circle:
Colonization Avenue North
1. Boozhoo
2. Sunset
3. Memorial
Honourable Mention: Paawidigong and Treaty
Colonization Avenue South
1. Memorial
2. Harmony
3. Barclay
Honourable Mention: Sunrise and Unity
