All city-owned and civic partner-controlled buildings, parks and structures now fall under a new municipal policy that provides guidance on the naming or re-naming of such areas.
The previous naming policy dealt only with parks, while this now has broader applications across the community, explained Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation.
The new municipal naming policy also deals with streets and bridges, added city manager Jim Puffalt, during city council’s April 22 regular council meeting.
“Sometime ago, a bridge naming policy came forward. We wanted to ensure there were consistent naming rights (for everything),” he added.
Names for all municipal buildings, parks and structures will be derived from their geographic location, since it allows residents to easily identify with the location of the building, park or structure, the new policy explained.
Strategies for naming these areas will include — but not be restricted to — the street bordering the asset, the name of the subdivision, the name of a school located nearby, the name of a major recreation centre located in or adjacent to the area, or a significant landmark or area located near or in the municipal building, park or structure.
The name could commemorate a historic figure or an event of cultural significance, the policy continued. A person important to the community could also be commemorated, as long as that person made “an exceptional positive contribution to parks, recreation or culture relating to the city facility, park or structure being named.”
Requests to re-name existing assets will be considered under three conditions:
• There are no historic or legacy implications with the name change
• The park or building is not named after an individual
• There are no existing sponsorship naming rights agreements in place
City-owned structures cannot be named after developers, real estate companies or other businesses where the name of the structure or area could be construed as being corporate advertising. However, an appropriate plaque may be erected on the site to recognize the contribution of a corporation.
Individuals currently holding elected office, working for the municipality or actively serving on any city standing or selection committee cannot be considered for naming, the policy said, while a person convicted of a known felony shall not be considered either.
Council voted 6-1 to approve the policy; Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, May 13.
