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North Battleford approves names for neighbourhoods

Jun 29, 2018 | 5:00 PM

North Battleford City Hall approved a proposal to establish formal neighbourhoods throughout the city at its recent meeting.

In total 14 neighbourhoods were approved in the project, which reflects 10 existing and four new names.

Mayor Ryan Bater said he was thrilled with the proposal and the new names.

“It’s approved now so no longer will we say South-East Quadrant. We’ll say Yellow Sky because that’s what that part of the city is going to be called,” he said following the meeting.  

Bater said a great deal of work went into the project, which involved the city’s planning and development department team. He said the project also incorporates the city’s community-safety initiative goals as well.

“We’ve been consulting with a variety of groups, most notably the Elders group from the Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre, in coming up with names that reflect the community,” Bater added. “We do have several names that are dedicated towards the Indigenous community and Indigenous leaders. That’s really where ‘Yellow Sky’ comes from as well.”

The mayor said information on the city’s 14 established neighbourhoods and neighbourhood names will be publicized in the coming weeks.

“Today was really about making a formal adoption by council,” Bater said.

Four new names

The four new neighbourhood names created are called: 

Kinsmen Park was the main suggestion proposed by the public during a public consultation

Sapp Valley, which was recommended by the Elders group taking part in the project in honour of the late Allen Sapp, a world-renowned Indigenous artist who lived in North Battleford.

Paciwin is named after the Cree name of John B. Tootoosis, a highly regarded Indigenous rights advocate who later became a senator.

Yellow Sky is named in honour of the respected First Nations leader who, as chief, “wanted the best for his people when their land was being settled by non-Indigenous leaders,” based on city planner Ryan Mackrell’s submitted report to council.

The remaining names for neighbourhoods already established included in the proposal are: Killdeer Park, Fairview Heights, Maher Park, McIntosh Park, Centennial Park, College Heights, Deanscroft, Parson’s Industrial Park, Riverview and Downtown.

Mackrell’s report also stated that the city neighbourhoods and boundaries will not have any impact on civic elections or establish “wards” in any way.

“Councillors are elected by and for the entire city; this will remain status quo,” according to his report.

Acting City Manager Bill Samborski said in his report to council the project to formally name and designate boundaries for all the neighbourhoods in North Battleford is “an exciting change.”

Now that council has approved the proposal, the Elders group involved in the project plans to have a pipe ceremony near the Gold Eagle Casino in North Battleford in July to recognize the occasion. The City of North Battleford is also expected to attend the event.

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW