Orleans Weekly Journal
Published: Friday, March 21, 2008 Rec complex fitting tribute to MacQuarrie legacy Forgive my bitterness this week. Our family is just wrapping up two glorious weeks in the Dominican Republic where we have met several wonderful young families from Orléans at our hotel complex. And most of these families are like ours, Franglais, or Frenglish if you prefer, with flawlessly bilingual children. We’ve unoffically renamed this area Punta Canada. Anxious for news from home, the Blackberry went on and a quick review of the Sens site didn’t help my mood, a few wins then a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Carolina. But what really got me steamed was a visit to www.eastottawa.ca and the whole controversy around the naming of the Bob MacQuarrie/Orléans Recreation Centre complex. To be fair to those opposed to this change of name, yes, the normal city procedure was not followed and Coun. Bob Monette acted with some haste in this regard. But he did so for honourable reasons as he as clearly pointed out. This was a notable exception to the city’s longstanding rules. A few months back I attended a Business Club of Orléans (BCO) breakfast where local Francophone business owners and gens d’affaires gather to listen to topical speakers and network. It is a great little organization. It is here where I first heard of a petition to reverse council’s decision and overturn the MacQuarrie complex name. From the sponsor who spoke – not a BCO-sanctioned speaker, just an announcement during free discussion – and given the invective-laden language he used, I agree with what Innes Ward Coun. Rainer Bloess noted a few weeks back when he was asked about this issue; it is being driven by some zealots in the Francophone community. And this is unfortunate for all of us, but most especially for the great work done by so many Franco-Ontarians in our community. Given that I file on Monday, I can only hope city council stands by its naming decision this week and leaves the MacQuarrie complex name as is. Bob MacQuarrie was a former MPP for our area when it was called Carleton East and he served his constituents, all of his constituents, with distinction and integrity. To name a place where families go to swim and skate is a fitting tribute to him. To name a place that houses local artwork which showcases the creative spirit of our community is a fitting tribute to him. To name a place with a skateboard park, basketball hoops and great public programming to engage and develop our kids is a fitting tribute to him. The strength in our community lies not only in its linguistic and cultural diversity, but even more so in our respect for each other and the legacies that many of our community leaders have built and left for us to inherit. To drag the MacQuarrie legacy and family name through this debate is simply wrong. Shame on those who would use the MacQuarrie complex naming issue as a front for more divisive issues and grievances. The language of our national and local political discourse should be one of unification and community building. So enough of this silly debate, c’est fini, s’il vous plait et merci beaucoup. Of course, there will be future commemorative naming opportunities where other community leaders’ legacies will be honoured. Let’s ensure the proper processes are followed and we all support the decision once it is made. |