Colonization Road gone

Kenora's Colonization Road is no longer.

The request came from a deputation in the spring from Jasmine Romaniuk. Councillors had no objection to a plan to simply continue Nash Street through to the end.

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield talked about the change.

“We decided to get rid of it. There was a bit of a debate as to what we we're going to rename it, but since part of it is already Nash Street, it just made sense to continue Nash Street. Colonization Road has become an issue all across Canada, not just here,” he said.

Romaniuk hoped that a name change for the road would lead to residents educating themselves on the topic.

“I think that they would have changed it, if they would have thought of it. It's up to the community to catch these things. Hopefully, all of the community will see the change, and question the change, and educate themselves about it,” she said.

In her delegation, Romaniuk made reference to recent documentaries about reconciliation and the legacy of residential schools.

Colonization Roads in Ontario were part of several policies implemented to expand settlements, and push out Indigenous populations already living there.