Provincial and municipal delegates gathered in Regina’s North Central Thursday to commemorate the official naming of Buffalo Meadows Pool and Park.
The city renamed the space in part of several legacy reviews looking at the role of city namesakes in the implementation of Residential Schools.
Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty says the name change is a great step towards reconciliation.
“It is very meaningful, I have to say being Indigenous is a big part of that, when communities recognize the history associated to the area that they’re situated in, the people, and of course the language, and the names that come with that, it’s very meaningful,” said Mirasty. “For me on a personal level, but also as the Lieutenant Governor for the province and recognizing the history we have here.”
Mirasty says reconciliation efforts have come a long way in the province, but there’s still a lot of work to do.
“There needs to be that feeling of willingness,” said Mirasty. “Willingness to acknowledge history, and willingness to come together for the future, literally.”
Mirasty says he hopes the park continues to serve as a gathering place for years to come, and its harmful previous name becomes a thing of the past.
“Young, particularly young Indigenous people, but all children coming here and using the name that it is today puts a different meaning to it,” said Mirasty. “When young people start use that name or that terminology, and then go out to understand why that change was made and why the name is there, that’s a very positive thing.”
A review on the possible renaming of Dewdney Avenue is currently underway and is set to go before council early next year.
