The Ottawa Citizen May 13, 2010
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Bravo to Citizen opinion writers Bob Plamondon and C.P. Champion as well as columnists Randall Denley, Dan Gardner, Andrew Cohen and John Robson for enriching all of us in the national capital region with the spirited articles in recent weeks concerning the idea to re-name parts of Wellington Street in honour of Sir John A. Macdonald.
It has been very refreshing to see such demonstrated concern for our history, both local and national, and for the passion with which so many have now been able to share in as "The Battle of Wellington" continues.
Both personally, and as the managing director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy, I would like to fire another salvo into the debate. Macdonald was Canada's founder and is deserving of celebration, but which other great prime minister was it who "turned Confederation's gristle into bone"?
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, by all accounts, was one of the country's greatest leaders ever. Why not rename the portion of Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill "Macdonald-Laurier Way" to celebrate this great heritage?
The street fronting Parliament Hill is the ideal location for these outstanding leaders and prime ministers, who did so much to shape who and what we are as a people to be suitably honoured.
I agree with Plamondon that the Duke of Wellington should retain "ownership" of the other portions of Wellington Street. He earned it.
Brian Lee Crowley,
Ottawa
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The Ottawa Citizen May 13, 2010
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/letters/expense+another/3020762/story.html#ixzz0np5aiyx1
As a keen reader of Canadian history, I have enjoyed the intensifying debate on the renaming of Wellington Street to one that commemorates our first prime minister. I agree that the city should have more tributes to Sir John A. Macdonald and to many of Canada's other great figures.
I do not believe, however, that immortalizing one figure should come at the expense of another. If the Duke of Wellington's name is removed from its current prominence, what will we have to remember him by?
If we were serious about remembering Sir John A. Macdonald and his legacy, there are alternatives. His home on Sussex Drive could be reclaimed and turned into a museum. Parliament declared Jan. 11 to be Sir John A. Macdonald Day, but it didn't recognized it as a public holiday -- let's change that.
Encouraging a broader teaching of Canadian history through mandatory high school classes is another way to reintroduce this national figure to Canadians.
I would much prefer renaming of Metcalfe Street after Macdonald. With the newly renovated Museum of Nature at one end and Parliament Hill anchoring the other, Metcalfe Street is dotted with heritage buildings and is a major transportation arterial into the downtown. By renaming this street, the memory of the Duke of Wellington can be preserved while we pay our respects to Macdonald. As a masterful negotiator of Confederation, such a compromise would be in keeping with Macdonald's ways.
Anthony Near,
Kanata
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/letters/expense+another/3020762/story.html#ixzz0np5Vh2Nl
The Ottawa Citizen May 13, 2010
Re: The battle of Wellington, May 10.
Like most residents of Kingston, the home of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, I have been closely following the controversy over the idea to rename portions of Ottawa's Wellington Street after Kingston's greatest son.
We do have a suggestion for those in your city who have been lobbying to have Wellington Street named after our guy: While the battle continues in the Citizen pages, you can come visit us here in Kingston if you really want to see a community who knows how to celebrate its history and Sir John A.
Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard is one of the main exits off the 401 into Kingston. We had no difficulty naming this main thoroughfare after our first prime minister. Kingston is also erecting a large sign on the 401 that will proudly proclaim our city as Macdonald's home. So, you folks in Ottawa and all those millions who drive by each year will have no excuse not to visit if you wish to celebrate Sir John A. and Canadian history.
We suggest folks from Ottawa come first to our visitor's centre and pick up a free copy of the walking tour of our historic downtown, In Sir John A.'s Footsteps! Bellevue House, once Sir John A.'s home, is a museum you have to see.
Our first-class restaurants and shopping will only complement your trips here, and, for those championing Wellington, you won't feel left out. A relatively new pub and dining establishment is quite the toast of our downtown. It's called, of course, The Iron Duke, and named in honour of -- you guessed it -- the Duke of Wellington. Oh, by the way, it is located on Kingston's Wellington Street.
Rob Carnegie,
Kingston
Director, tourism marketing and development,
Tourism Kingston