City council voted unanimously to approve the motion brought forward by Councillor George Maroosis to rename the Civic Holiday by August 6th next year. The motion mentioned how municipalities in Ontario have the ability to rename the annual Civic Holiday to a local name, and points to a strong friendship and bond that’s enjoyed by the city and Nipissing First Nation.
Council will now work in unison with Nipissing First Nation to come up with a name that exemplifies the relationship between both sides. Maroosis believes this is a step in a process of acknowledgement and recognition of partnerships inside the reconciliation going on across the country. He says something like this was long overdue, and is looking forward to the process in collaboration with Nipissing First Nation that will produce the new name.
Maroosis says in the bottom of the resolution that a committee will be struck of members representing NFN and the city. Members will be able to bring forward names for debate. Maroosis says the name will have to be meaningful to the collaboration between both sides, and at the same time it’s going to have to be a marketable name that will ring off the lips of people. He says the holiday will be clearly known by that name going forward.
Maroosis says the motion wasn’t his idea, but something worked on in the Mayor’s office by Mayor Al McDonald and Chief Scott McLeod. During last night’s council meeting when addressing the motion, Maroosis praised the work McDonald has done with NFN, and likewise the work McLeod has done with the city.
