Halifax Regional Municipality isn’t looking to erase history by looking at changing or correcting streets and facilities with “Micmac” in their title.
“In fact, what we’re doing is helping people understand history,” Coun. Shawn Cleary (Halifax West Armdale) said.
Staff will draw up a recommendation report on renaming Micmac Boulevard, the Micmac Transit terminal and Micmac Drive in Dartmouth and Micmac Street and Micmac Court in Halifax after Coun. Sam Austin’s (Dartmouth Centre) motion passed unanimously.
The report will also look at renaming Micmac Drive and Micmac Park in Hammonds Plains as requested by Coun. Pam Lovelace (Hammonds Plains-St. Margarets).
Austin said while Micmac isn’t considered a slur, it’s “very colonial and outdated.”
“From what I understand, Micmac is an anglicized version of Mi’kmaq,” Austin told Halifax regional council Tuesday.
“As a bare minimum, we should be using the right names.”
The staff report will consider whether new or corrected names should be given to each street and facility.
Austin noted Micmac Boulevard, originally known as The Avenue, has roots that go back to the Black community in the early 1800s.
“Given the history of the land where Micmac Boulevard is today, subject to discussion with the affected communities, a new commemorative name that draws from the Black community may be the better fit,” he said.
Coun. Tony Mancini (Harbourview-Burnside-Dartmouth East) pointed to how times are changing.
Professional sports teams, such as the Edmonton Eskimos and Washington Redskins, recently changed their names.
“We are at a different time. The values of today truly are different,” he said.
Mayor Mike Savage agreed, adding he grew up on Lake Micmac and he and his friends “never really questioned it” at the time.
“That’s how it was, but all of our consciousness has changed over the last number of years and I think we have to acknowledge that,” Savage said.
Savage said the report will lead to important discussions, similar to what came out of the Edward Cornwallis task force, as staff is to work with the Black and Mi’kmaq communities during the process.
Last year, Micmac Boulevard laneway was renamed United Avenue to reflect the area's history. The request, however, came forward because it was confusing emergency responders and mail carriers with Micmac Boulevard, which runs from Woodland Avenue to Lakeshore Park Terrace.
