Help Save Park Avenue
Park Avenue is a Montreal institution. Park Avenue is named so because of Mount Royal Park and Robert Bourassa had nothing to do with the park. This is a "founding street" where
many immigrants migrated to on their arrival to Montreal, changing the name
is an insult to them and their tradition.
Moreover, Gerald Tremblay is being a dictator and had no
public discussion about the name change, he just woke up one morning and
decided that since he is mayor, he can change whatever he wants. This is
tyranny and will not be tolerated.
Post you comments
posted by Mario Rizzi @ 10:57 AM
78 Comments:
The Mayor of Montreal should hear from the family, who rather have St Joseph street renamed. How about re-nameing the Old Port after him.
Montreal is losing its sense of history, and I dont mean recent history. How about making a new park and naming it Bourassa Park?
SAVE PARK AVENUE I call upon all the citizens of Montreal to rise up and ensure that Park Avenue will live on forever! Nikolaos Karabineris Park Avenue Resident
Opposing the wishes of Bourassas family to rename St. Joseph Blvd., where Bourassa grew up, claiming it would bring opposition from the Catholic Church. Ignorant to the fact that a short block away Laurier Ave. was renamed from St. Louis Ave. in 1899, a t
Opposing the wishes of Bourassas family to rename St. Joseph Blvd., where Bourassa grew up, claiming it would bring opposition from the Catholic Church. Ignorant to the fact that a short block away Laurier Ave. was renamed from St. Louis Ave. in 1899, a t
Mayor Tremblay and his puppets secretly planed to impose the will of a political partys French majority onto the most culturally diverse street in the heart of a great city. Going against the vast majority of Park Avenues residents and business owners. Op
SAVE PARK AVENUE It was with great sorrow and a heavy heart that I heard the news from the dictatorship at Montreal City Hall. They have taken upon themselves, without any public consultation to change the name of my beloved Park Avenue to Robert Boura
I think it is terrible to change parc ave to robert bourassa. take a different street, not a main one as important as parc ave. its nothing against mr. bourassa i always liked him & he did some good while in office. just pick another street or park.
La toponymie est une pratique délicate. Perdre lAvenue du Parc est un recul pour le patrimoine historique et culturelle de notre ville. Le Boulevard Saint-Joseph serait un choix plus approprié et moins lourd de conséquence.
Shame on mayor Tremblay Park ave.is part of our history in Montreal and should be left alone.Stop changing names of the old streets.Any new blvd. or new bridge or new highway could be named after Mr.Bourassa.
Shame on mayor Tremblay Park ave.is part of our history in Montreal and should be left alone.Stop changing names of the old streets.Any new blvd. or new bridge or new highway could be named after Mr.Bourassa.
Shame on mayor Tremblay Park ave.is part of our history in Montreal and should be left alone.Stop changing names of the old streets.Any new blvd. or new bridge or new highway could be named after Mr.Bourassa.
Im really shocked by the Mayors lack of public consultation. Many people (like myself) are emotionally attached to this street, called Park Ave. I was born in Mile End and have moved back to Park Ave. not Robert Bourassa. Shame on the mayor for his undemo
I lived on Park Avenue for 6 years, and I was so proud to tell everyone from out of town that I lived on Park Avenue because they thought of Park Avenue in New York! LOL! Changing all the street names on a whim is crazy! What about the expense to stores t
I lived on Park Avenue for 6 years, and I was so proud to tell everyone from out of town that I lived on Park Avenue because they thought of Park Avenue in New York! LOL! Changing all the street names on a whim is crazy! What about the expense to stores t
Lets keep historic street names historic!!!!!!!! Park is Parc is Bleury, forever, period.
1. People will confuse it with Blvd. Henri-Bourassa.
2. Expense of name change to businesses and individuals.
3. No consultation!
Montreal was a great city in the making, and had a beautiful street by the Park, like New York City, and named it Park Avenue. Montreal also decided, like New York, that it would not allow right turns on red, and the two are the only cities in North America with this law. But now, Montreal has become a silly petty little place, with no grand vision and is becoming sillier and pettier every minute. I would love to save Park Avenue, but I would much rather watch the silly people that support the change wallow in their own distruction.
What is Park Avenue famous for?Duddy Kravitz, bagels, immigrants, Jews. But now we have instead, Le Plateau, very French. I think the change is meant to remove the Jewish character and memory from an area which the French would like to claim as their own. But many books, some famous, have already been written about the history of Park Avenue, thank God, and the world will see this change for the racist move that it is.
I am very happy to see that many people are resisting the autocratic mayor of Montreal. Who does he think he is to just walk into a neighbourhood like this and scrap a century and a qaurter of local tradition anyway?! We will have to rid our city of tyrants like him if we are ever to be free in any true meaning of the word.
Best wishes,
Jim Brown
Chairman, English Liberation Movement of the Montreal Liberation Organization
If M. Bourassa needs a street so badly why not give
him Amherst. I have heard that one Lord Jeffrey
Amherst distributed smallpox-infected blankets used as germ warfare against American Indians.
http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/amherst/lord_jeff.html
Now there is a good reason to change a name.
If the city must change the name of a street that
celebrates so much creative culture with the
happenings in Parc Jeanne-Mance right up through the Mile End, why not consider Riopelle? Why another politician? It reeks of "them" honouring one of their own.
Changing Park Ave. to Robert Bourassa Ave. could cost $16,900 in street signs. Businesses and residents pay their own related costs. Don't we have enough potholes to deal with? This is frivolous spending on the city's part. To change a main artery's name warrents actions that change the world for the better. I'm sorry but Bobo just doesn't raise the bar.
Changing Park Ave. to Robert Bourassa Ave. could cost $16,900 in street signs. Businesses and residents pay their own related costs. Don't we have enough potholes to deal with? This is frivolous spending on the city's part. To change a main artery's name warrents actions that change the world for the better. I'm sorry but Bobo just doesn't raise the bar.
Renaming a hisoric street is a bad idea for so many reasons. Not just because we would lose a part of the city's history, but also because Park Avenue defines an important cultural and commercial district. It is a main road that is used by tourists and residents alike to orient themselves in the city. And Mount Royal Park belongs at the intersection of Mount Royal and Park.
I grew up in Park Extension, but I went to elementary school in Mild-End for six years and I still pass by the area every so often, taking the 80 bus downtown. Park Avenue means too much to so many people and for Tremblay to rename it without consulting the public is insulting. No offense to Bourassa and his family whatsoever but renaming Park Avenue is not the way to go.
Is there a French language website? Why not? Is this strictly an English speaking movement? If it is I don't want anything to do with this, as much as I believe in the cause.
Richard
Who asked you to rename our street? You don't own the street or the city, you run it on our behalf and we say NO!!
It is NOT a french only demonstration. We are not fluent enough in french to make a french site or to respond to interviews and such in french. The demonstration is open to EVERYONE. We apologise for the inconvenience.
If they rename the street, I can no longer use the old joke that it is "avenue du CRAP spelled backwards."
Seriously, I lived on St. Joseph, and that street is much more reflective of Bourassa's francophone, professional, upper middle-class milieu than the diverse, working class flavour of du Parc.
Have you ever imagined how a street name can have such an impact on our lives? I lived on Parc Avenue during my high school years and they were the best years of my life. I still sometimes go by Parc Av. and it brings back so many wonderful memories. Changing the name would not only change the historical meaning, but it will also change what Parc Avenue represents to us on a personnal level.
Sorry but this is a non-starter. Perception is (nearly)everything, particularly in Quebec, and if you can't have your promotional materials available in both languages you will not be taken seriously and the whole enterprise will be seen as an Anglo thing only. It will do more harm than good. I suggest that you get organised and give yourselves a bit more time and mount a credible bilingual campaign.
I wish you well. It would be a pity to see Park Avenue/Avenue du Parc be come known as anything else.
Not trying to be hostile,
Richard
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Hi Richard, in no way mean disrespect to the french language. The Mayor announced this news very suddenly and we are probably lucky as it is that we got any site online in time. I personally am not strong enough in written french to translate the website, but if you are capable of translating a portion or all of the material, I will certainly post another website completely in french. Thanks in advance for your help.
Sign the Petition to save Parc Ave.!
http://causes.ca/duparc
Sign the petition to save Avenue du Parc / Park Avenue.
Pewrhaps Richard should start a French site. Or is he in the same group that mr Bouchard categorized in his recent book and wants it done for him? Some people really make me wonder!
-JB
Oh Bobo Bear, how you betray your city and all of us that voted for you by plastering your name all over our heritage and history. Is this how you want to be remembered?Your memory is now forever ruined in my books.
Richard. Montreal is very different from the rest of Quebec, in many ways, but one way is that English is a large part of the culture here. You might say that Montreal is a distinct society from the rest of Quebec. Realistically, I don't think you can fully understand our feelings about Parc Avenue, but thank you for your support.
I think Robert Bourassa deserves better than having his name forced upon a historic neighborhood which would only breed feelings of sadness, anger and disgust whenever people see his name on street signs.
So depressing to see this become an anglo vs. french issue - I want so much to stop the name change and am eager to protest - but when I see this issue polarizing and read the lameass posts of bitter anglo losers - not sure if I want to be associated with that. The debate has to be inclusive - and you bitter anglos-types need to put a sock in it - or else you isolate the rest of us - split everyone up - and garantee Tremblay gets his Bourassa Ave.
-Patrick
It's unbelievable that Mayor Tremblay should take it upon himself to rename Park Ave for Robert Bourassa. There is already a library named for him in Outremont, a statue in Quebec City, and a highway in the province to be renamed for him in the future. Park Avenue means so much to so many people and Tremblay intends to erase all its history with the swipe of a hand.
Robert Bourassa was certainly well enough recompensed for his service to the public I would think.
I hope that Robert Bourassa did not go into politics for public recognition as I hope most politicians would not. in any case, there other options to
recognize Bourassa's life without adversely affecting so many people who will have to live with such an ill thought out decision. Renaming Park Avenue will be black stain on Gerald Tremblay's administration. This reeks of arrogance and lack of concern for the very people who elected him.
Why not change Broadway in New York -- to Rudy Giuliani Way
Why not change Yonge Street in Toronto -- to David Peterson Street
Changing Avenue du Parc is just as ABSURD?! Yes, it is.
"Administration performante au service de la communauté" -- Voici votre motto! Monsieur le maire, la mairesse,conseillers et conseillières SOYEZ donc À NOTRE SERVICE. Avenue du Parc est NOTRE avenue. Ne perdez pas nos votes!!
"Administration performante au service de la communauté" -- Voici votre motto! Monsieur le maire, la mairesse,conseillers et conseillières SOYEZ donc À NOTRE SERVICE. Avenue du Parc est NOTRE avenue. Ne perdez pas nos votes!!
Robert Bourassa himself was a man of tradition and preservation and I am certain he himself would not want the name of Park Avenue changed in any way, not for him and not for anybody or anything else.
It's probably for the better that he is no longer alive to witness such a defamation and disgrace in the neighborhood where he lived and that he dearly loved.
Mayor Tremblay is doing neither his own career nor the memory of Robert Bourassa a favor with this name change that defies any respect towards the city that he is supposed to represent and its citizens.
I hope Tremblay gets his Bourassa Ave, or any other French name. It is one more step to eliminating English history and culture in Quebec. Quebec is French. Accept it and forget all about Park Avenue.
Perhaps Tremblay could also rename Mount Royal Park to Parc Robert Bourassa, and then he could rename Park Avenue to avenue du Parc Robert Bourassa. And we could call it Avenue du Parc for short.
The true spirit of Bourassa lives on - it's like a spontaneous notwithstanding clause made up by Tremblay!
Mordecai Richler can only spin in his grave so many times before he winds up knocking neighbors out of the way.
Sign the petition against renaming Park Avenue here: http://www.petitiononline.com/parc/petition.html
Thanks for the reply, SOS Park,
Unfortunately, I am not the right person to translate the materials into French. I would be able to (perfectly bilingual)but as I live near Kelowna, Bc, it would send the wrong message (ie. "we have so few French speaking friends and sympathisers that we had to get a guy from BC to do the job"). That would be detrimental to the cause. No offense but you need to find someone local to do this.
Again, no offense intended. I agree with the cause. I am appalled at the proposal to change the name ave du Parc/Park ave. to ANYTHING else. But I'm not sure the approach has been sufficiently thought through. Someone needs to present reasoned, culturally sensitive arguments in favour of retaining the historic name (and, of course, I am aware that City Hall is making this more difficult by foregoing any public consultation. Shame on them!). A hastily convened protest demonstration, complete with a march on the mayor's house, conducted mostly in English, hardly does that. It may show that a few people are pissed-off but it's not likely to change anyone's mind.
So...
* gather reasonable people together in opposition to the change.
* Make it a bilingual group, indeed a multi-lingual group reflecting the mosaic that is ave. du Parc.
* Come up with reasoned arguments, based on history, culture, typonomy, and the example of other major cities.
* Make those arguments heard by as many people as possible. Peaceful demonstrations are fine for this purpose as long as they are inclusive of the whole community and don't become obnoxious.
I wish you well. I was born and raised in Montreal. I lived most of my adult life there. The name "Park ave." if full of happy connotations for me. No other name would do.
Richard
*
I lived on Park Avenue years ago and loved every moment of it.
I think the mayor ought to change the name of his own street - who does he think he is anyway!
It was bad enough when Dorchester was changed and now this!
I'm glad I went to Fletchers Field today (yes it's REAL name is Fletchers Field) to join in the rally against Park Ave. having its name changed.
The young organizers did a great job.
I hope they'll be around the next time one of our illustrious politicians decide to pull a fast one on the citizens.
I think more of the shop owners on Park Avenue should have closed up and joined the rally.
Even Bourassas family didn't want the name changed - they wanted St.Joseph St. which would have been more appropriate.
The mayor is a fool!
Thanks to the young people who organized this very important protest. I was proud to be one of the citizens interested enough to join in the walk.
Park Avenue will always be Park Avenue, just like Dorchester will never become Rene Levesque.
I loved Greek2004's comment re the renaming of the Concord Overpass!
Good idea.
Park Avenue is an Ethnic melting pot - one of the best streets in Montreal with so many cultures it's a pleasure just walking along the street soaking it all up.
Carpe diem.
I'm surprised the mayor didn't name Park Avenue after himself.
Or do we still have that to look forward to.
I'm sure his little tiny brain is spinning thinking of all the possible English streets he can rename after himself.
Montreal needs more Tremblays.
They keep us on our toes.
They force us to gather together to fight idiots!
Thanks to the young organizers of todays rally.
It gives me faith in our future citizens.
You should all consider getting into politics - the world needs more young people who actually care!
As much as some comments tend to view this rally as a french/english thing - it isn't.
It's just people wanting to preserve the history of the name Park Avenue.
If you complainers would do your homework and read up on that history perhaps you'd learn something today!
Slowly our street names are being changed to gratify the ego of our so-called politicians.
But every so often a few people decide "enough" and organize a protest.
Thank you.
Best walk I've had in ages.
I'm ready and willing at any time to join a rally against stupidity.
Why not just set up a public washroom in the park near the statue in honor of Robert Bourassa?
A "Robert Bourassa Washroom" would certainly result in more respect and tribute to the former premier than being forced to see his name in lieu of our beloved "avenue du Parc".
Why don't y ou all GET A LIFE
What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
- William Shakespeare, "Romeo & Juliet"
Hahaha...I just read this...unbelievable. Where does this Trembley fella live?
Like what address, precisely?
There will be a meeting to discuss further action at 6 p.m. Tuesday on park Avenue near fairmount. Contact maatbooks@sympatico.ca for further details.
Before being loaded aboard army trucks in 1915 for a long trip to the death and destruction of the Great War, my grandfather's kid brother was photographed at Park avenue on Fletcher's Field. It was one of the last pieces of Canada he saw. He was killed. Now my own government wants to kill the street he left behind -- that's what it feels like, killing the street.
Brian McKenna
A street name is more than just a name and an identifier. It's a value and a feeling and it sometimes takes a hundred years or so to build its patina. Why
do we just discard these things that mean so much
to our daily lives. Keep it Park avenue. It's older than Robert Bourassa and it's done as much for the city's
identity.
What a horrible idea. Unbelievable. You can't just arbitrarily change names just for fun. Why not change Times Square in New York to Ronald McDonald Square? Bad enough Dorchester is Ave. Rene Levesque!
I think it's pretty obvious what is happening here: Mayor Tremblay has been offered some "contributions" from the very rich Bourassa family to help him with his decision to pick a major street to name after Robert Bourassa. Now the mayor has to keep his side of the bargain by choosing Park Avenue. Robert Bourassa himself had to resign in 1976 due to corruption scandals in his party, now 10 years after his death his family is on the giving side of things.
In the future whenever I pass by a "Robert Bourassa Boulevard" street sign I will be reminded of our dead corrupt prime minister and our corrupt mayor.
Vive la corruption!
Bourassa deserves to have a street named after him. Park Ave is tied to the mountain and should not be changed. Why not opt to change St Joseph (the street he grew up on) as we already have an Oratory recognizing that Saint.
Take the money that it would cost to change the name from park ave to robert bourassa ave. and create a new Robert Bourassa library in the fraser- hickson library building. I think Mr. Bourassa would be proud to have his name associated with books and learning. Let's look to the future, in our children, and not to our political past.
Mr Gerald Tremblay is finish with this one for the next election !
My vote will go to the Green Party next time around...
Gerald Tremblay (not the same guy).
Mayor Tremblay is attempting to undermine two important Canadian values, democracy and freedom of speech, by unilaterally pushing this name change against the will of most residents and by not allowing the city councilors to publicly comment on it.
It is clear that such a shameless act of dictatorship which would have made Hitler, Saddam Hussein and Pinochet proud will not be tolerated in this glamorous city of ours. Even though Tremblay will not get away with this, he has already made a lot of enemies among many upset citizens who may not be much interested in politics otherwise but who will remember what Tremblay tried and make sure to vote against Tremblay/MICU next time.
Anglos and Frenchies, Arabs and Jews, Indians and Pakistanis, Greeks and Turks, Catholics and Protestants, Americans and North Koreans, we all stand united against anyone who wants to take away our heritage, our history, our Park Avenue and rename it in favor of a dead corrupt Quebec politician.
Enough is enough, the line must be drawn right here!
Tremblay's political career is as good as finished due to this issue. He will forever be remembered as "the mayor who wanted to kill off Park Avenue" long after his (political) life has come to an end.
Park Avenue will live on forever because the citizens of Montreal will never let her die! O Park Avenue, we stand on guard for thee!
WHY DON,T YOU STOP WHINNING..IT,S JUST A NAME..BESIDE THE STREET IS A LOUSY PLACE TO SHOP..
We have expressed our overwhelming opposition to the Park Avenue name change. Tens of thousands of us have signed petitions. Yet our pleas remain unheard. The mayor has turned a blind eye to the citizens of Montreal, refusing to acknowledge the vast aversion to the executive committees name change proposal. The Mayor's only concession was to allow a so-called free vote on the issue. Assuring that councillors will be allowed to vote their conscious, after consulting their constituents, without the fear of being reprimanded. The mayor stated that this is democracy at it's best. Needless to say, the mayor is delusional. Exactly what is democratic in the way that Montreal City Hall goes about changing the names of it's streets. They never consult the property owners, merchants or residents of the street that will have it's name changed. The people who do business, live and raise their children on the street, have no say. They do not matter. Is this democracy? I think not. The whole process is fundamentally flawed and just because it has been done before does not make it right. If the mayor has lost the ability to differentiate right from wrong, he should resign his position. A mayor must place the interests of the people first.
How about Sherbrooke St. for M . Bourassa? It is downtown, parallels Rene Levesque, and --if you want more French heritage in Montreal-- it erases yet another British governor after Baron Dorchester. Meanwhile it leaves the avenue of the big Park alone.
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