North Battleford city council at Monday's meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Promoting Inclusiveness

City approves name change from Railway Avenue West to Peyak Trail

Sep 13, 2022 | 12:46 PM

Residents of North Battleford will now notice a new street name during their walks.

The City of North Battleford approved a proposal at its meeting Monday to rename Railway Avenue West, from Territorial Drive to 12 Avenue, as Peyak Trail.

The request to find a new name first came to council last year from local Métis resident Marilyn Richardson who said the street name of Railway Avenue West can be confusing. She recommended naming it something to reflect Indigenous culture instead, and be more welcoming as a community.

Leone Neville and Richardson provided an update on the proposal during the city’s June 20, 2022 planning meeting. Richardson said a group of five Elders recommended the name Peyak Trail, which means “One Trail” in Cree, to represent unity.

(Submitted/City of North Battleford)

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The city’s junior planner Brett Kitchen gave a presentation to council on the matter, on behalf of city planner Ryan Mackrell, at council’s Sept. 12 meeting. It was noted since no addresses are being changed with the renaming, there are no affected properties to notify of the changes.

Mayor David Gillan said the new name will help promote inclusiveness.

He said the idea came to council from the grassroots level. Then, the city created a sub-committee to look at what name would be the most appropriate.

“We had a lot of consultation with Elders in our region, so we as a council feel very good about the process,” Gillan said. “I think that people will think it’s a really great gesture when we are talking about being an inclusive community… and about Truth and Reconciliation. To recognize more of our Indigenous heritage is an important part of it.”

The city plans to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to officially announce the street’s new name.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow