Owen Sound’s Operations Committee is going to be recommending city council authorize a project for students to place messages of remembrance related to residential schools.
During a meeting on March 8, a report titled “Mino Bimaadizinwin (The Good Path) Green Space Project,” was brought forward to the committee by Manager of Engineering Services Chris Webb.
The report recommends city council approve having the staff and students of Alexandra Community School and the Bluewater District School Board paint and maintain artwork related to the residential schools on the east-side sidewalk on 7th Avenue East, next to the school playground and walkway from the 7th Avenue East road to the school property. The paintings would focus on remembrance and healing.
The report also recommends the Parks and Open Space Division supply and plant seven boulevard trees in the 7th Avenue East boulevard next to the school property and placement of plaque rocks.
The trees would represent the Seven Grandfather Teachings. The final placement of the trees would be based on the confirmation and location of underground wiring that will be determined in the spring.
The rocks would be supplied by the the school as part of the city’s annual tree-planting budget. The cast bronze plaques will each have one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings and mounted on small boulder-sized rocks and an appropriate distance from each of the seven trees. They will be set into the concrete and facing towards the sidewalk below the finished grade, to reduce the possibility of theft or vandalism.
The recommendation also included the supply and installation of one accessible rest bench as part of the Commemorative Bench Program. The bench would be installed and secured on a concrete pad that accommodates a wheelchair in the central location of the trees. It will have a plaque installed with an inscription reading, “As you watch them laugh and play, Remember us, who were sent away.”
Street Occupation Permits would also be issued by the Public Works and Engineering Department, including traffic-pedestrian road-sidewalk closure plans, 511 notifications, and traffic control set-up and removal.
All fees that would be charged to the school and school board for this project are also being recommended to be waived.
The report says at a regular meeting of the Operations Committee on Feb. 8, retired teacher Jake Bates from Alexandra Community School and its Principal Dan Russell made a presentation proposing the project.
“The project recognizes the tragedy and truth of the residential school that were operated in most provinces and all territories in Canada for decades until 1997,” says the report.
The artwork on the sidewalk would be completed and maintained by the students as needed, and on an ongoing basis, while being overseen and supervised by the school’s teachers and administration.
The asphalt walkway, the grass boulevards next to the school, the rocks with the plaques, and the bench will be maintained by the school board and staff.
For the Parks and Open Space Division, the estimated cost associated with the trees is $1,400 and the report says, is able to be covered through the approved 2022 operating budget for boulevard tree planting.
The accessible bench with the inscription plaque, companion concrete pad, and seating comes to $2,000. The report says this can also be covered through the 2022 operating budget.
For the Public Works and Engineering Department, the costs related to Street Occupation Permit issuance, setting up and removing traffic control devices and staff support related to coordinating this project, comes to $3,000. This is able to be carried out through the approved 2022 operating budget.
Owen Sound Deputy Mayor Brian O’Leary is voicing his support of the proposed project.
“It is a great project, it is a nice little tickle that we are going to waive those fees as well,” says O’Leary.
Committee member Bill King added he thought it is a great idea to have these messages beside the school.
“I just think it is a wonderful idea to have this, especially located at a public school where these young kids start their education and realize how lucky they are compared to the kids that had to spend their whole school years in residential schools. With Alexandra being a newer school, it will be there for a lot of years to come so children will really be able to understand how lucky they are to be able to go to a public school,” says King.