FORT FRANCES, Ont. — The Town of Fort Frances is moving closer toward the renaming of Colonization Road.
The municipality's Planning and Development Executive Committee voted Monday to recommend to the full council that it proceed with renaming both Colonization Road West and Colonization Road East.
The vote followed the presentation of a staff report outlining the feedback from a consultation brochure that was distributed to town residents.
According to the report, many of the 37 responses support the name change, and "only a select few" stated outright objections.
"Many respondents expressed concern for the Town's image perception in the eyes of others if change is not initiated," the report says.
The town also received numerous letters and emails prior to the consultation period.
According to Councillor Douglas Judson, the leading proponent of the name change, over 240 people provided comments in 52 letters, and only 10 individuals opposed renaming the road.
Council's road renaming policy provides for a period of public input on suggested names.
Judson wants council to consider input from local Indigenous people in particular.
"It is for us, as leaders, to show where we stand on historic and present-day racism, and to do something forthright to acknowledge that Indigenous people have a role to play in the future of this community," he told the other members of the committee.
Judson said the new name for at least one of the two sections of Colonization Road should reflect local Indigenous heritage, culture or language.
The City of Dryden is currently in the process of renaming Colonization Road in that community.
In Emo, the municipal council voted in January to find a new name for its Colonization Road as well.
