Council hears call for community committee to look at facility naming
A former city manager of tourism and recreation is suggesting council consider creating a community-based committee, with city representation, for honorific facility naming.
Dave Saad presented to council on Tuesday night, saying such a committee was formed in the 1980s.
He applauds the city’s sponsorship policy, approved in early July, and says this would add to it.
Saad says one option would be to recognize people who may not necessarily make it to the Hall of Fame but have made significant contributions, pointing to Rose Blair who started the Hockey for Beginners program.
“That program has been going for 50 years,” he says. “There is somebody that would probably never be considered for a hall of fame, but you think of just recognizing her on one of those dressing rooms to tell a little bit of her story, which speaks to our community.”
Saad says a number of people have since been involved, but the program continues with a waiting list.
He also suggests a plaque to tell the story behind the naming.
“I know that at Optimist Park, where there’s Kelly and Handley [Fields], there are names on a sign that mean nothing to 100% of the people playing there today,” he says. “Something would be part of the policy that would have to be devised, to incorporate a little bit of the history as to why that name is there.”
The city’s sponsorship policy includes a section on honorific or commemorative namings, which will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis.
They also require council approval.
At the end of his presentation, Saad highlighted the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Sport event coming up this weekend, as part of the city’s centennial.
Several top male and female athletes, builders and teams will be recognized.
Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
