REPORT TO:
Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
May 28, 2012
SUBMITTED BY:
Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO (ext. 4646)
PREPARED BY:
Dan Ritz, Supervisor Design & Development (ext. 4348)
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
Ward 9
DATE OF REPORT:
May 22, 2012
REPORT NO.:
INS-12-046
SUBJECT:
Queen Elizabeth II Park Naming Request
RECOMMENDATION:
That consideration for renaming the park with lands fronting onto Queen Street North
commonly referred to as Civic Centre to "Queen Elizabeth II Park" be tabled, and
That staff be directed to complete an internal and external circulation for comments and
input into the naming request; and further
That staff report back on August 13, 2012 with a final recommendation for the park
naming.
BACKGROUND:
On April 23, 2012, Mr. Bradley Barbour appeared at Council as a delegation and requested that
the City of Kitchener name a city park in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, given that this is the
Jubilee year. Council directed staff to discuss park name opportunities with Mr. Barbour and
bring back a recommendation to committee for consideration.
REPORT:
Following the Council meeting, staff reviewed various options for the park name request with
Mr. Barbour. The renaming of the lands commonly referred as Civic Centre Park to Queen
Elizabeth II Park was recognized as an appropriate option considering the significance of the
monarchy name.
The park fronts onto Queen Street North, Ahrens Street East & Otto Street and lies within the
Civic District next to Centre in the Square, the Kitchener Public Library and Regional, Provincial
& Federal offices. The site is presently zoned Mackenzie King Square (D-7) and has been
identified in the city property inventory as Civic Centre Park, also informally as Civic Park. The
site at the larger context has also been referred to Mackenzie King Square.
The park includes a playground installed in 2005, mature trees and lawn area for the local
neighbourhood. The park is adjacent to the Civic Centre and Central Frederick Neighbourhood
Associations. In 2000, the Civic Centre NA informally asked about naming the space Mackenzie
King Park though the Official Plan process, although this was not followed through on.
Figure 1: Civic Centre Park fronting onto Queen Street North
The park is also the home of the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial through various donations from
the Kitchener Professional Fire Fighters Association (KPFFA). The KPFFA donations include
“Protecting the Memory” bronze sculpture (2005), fallen fire fighters memorial helmets (2005),
World Trade Centre memorial artifact (2011) and related signage. The concrete walkway
arching into the park off Queen Street is also used for ceremonial events.
The park is also illustrated in the long term conceptual plan within the Civic District Vision and
Master Plan – Imagine the Possibilities (2010). This plan also identified potential park expansion
with the urban square above the proposed underground parking garage.
Figure 2: Civic District Vision and Master Plan (2010) – Conceptual Long Term Plan
Mr. Barbour’s request (see Attachment B) is that the city renames “Civic Centre Park” to “Queen
Elizabeth II Park” is in celebrate of the Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary of accession) of our
Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II. In the past, the City of Kitchener (then Berlin) honoured past
monarch and Mother of Confederation, Queen Victoria by naming Victoria Park in 1896, a year
before Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Renaming Civic Centre Park to Queen Elizabeth II
Park would create a nearby Royal sister park to Victoria Park. How fitting for the Downtown
district to be the center of these two parks named after our two most accomplished and longest
reigning Sovereigns.
Mr. Barbour is also offering a personal donation of $1,000.00 as a resident to be used for a new
dedication sign should the park be renamed. Staff can work with Mr. Barbour on the details of
this donation and sign layout.
Letters of support have also been provided by Stephen Woodworth Member of Parliament
Kitchener Centre (Attachment C), Peter Braid Member of Parliament (Attachment D) and local
resident Dr. Glenn Cartwright (Attachment E).
City Policy I-475 Naming/Renaming – Corporate Facilities (see Attachment A), provides
consistent criteria and a process for the selection of names for, or the renaming of, corporate
facilities in the City of Kitchener. Typically, park names are named after street frontages or other
geographic significance, in some cases a historical event or connection, and occasionally in
recognition of an individual’s outstanding accomplishments. Policy I-475 also outlines the
selection process, including review for conformity, circulation to internal and external
stakeholders and recommendation to City Council.
Staff proposes to circulate to internal and external agencies, including the surrounding
neighbourhood before reporting back to Council on August 13, 2012 with a final
recommendation.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Community Priorities: Quality of Life & Dynamic Downtown
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Installation of park signage and/or dedication sign: $1,000.00 donation from resident, additional
in-kind city costs to be determined. Mr. Barbour indicates that he will be responsible for
associated costs pertaining to the organization and invitations for an official naming ceremony in
the fall of 2012. The city can assist with communication of the event.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
As per Policy I-475, staff will circulate name/re-naming request to internal and external
stakeholders, including the adjacent neighbourhood throughout June-July 2012.
Staff will return to Community & Infrastructure Services Committee on August 13, 2012 with a
final recommendation for council consideration.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO (Infrastructure Services Department)
ATTACHMENT A: Policy I-475, Naming/Re-Naming – Corporate Facilities
ATTACHMENT B: Park Naming Request, Mr. Bradley Barbour
Mr. Bradley Barbour
104 Hawkswood Drive
Kitchener, ON N2K 4J4
Mr. Randy Gosse
City Clerk, City of Kitchener
200 King St. West
Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
May 15, 2012
Dear Mr. Gosse,
I would like to formally request as a resident of the City of Kitchener that the city rename “Civic Centre
Park” to “Queen Elizabeth II Park”.
This year we celebrate the Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary of accession) of our Head of State, Queen
Elizabeth II. For the past 60 years, the Queen has dedicated herself to service and devotion to the
Commonwealth and especially to the various realms, especially Canada. Queen Elizabeth II also became
the first monarch, through the repatriation of the Constitution to become “Queen of Canada”, a
completely separate kingdom from the UK (if the UK abolished monarchy, it would still continue here).
The Queen has visited Canada over 20 times, is patron of over 30 Canadian charities. During the course
of Her Majesty’s visits to Canada, she has been to the City of Kitchener on three occasions. First visiting
in 1959, not long after her coronation, there is a famous picture of her signing a guest book with the
Mayors of Kitchener and Waterloo. Next in 1973, the Queen paid her respects for those who made the
ultimate sacrifice by laying a wreath at the Kitchener Cenotaph. RIM as a corporation is mostly based in
Waterloo but many of the employees live in Kitchener and contribute to Kitchener by being active
citizens. No one will ever forget the image of the Queen wearing a RIM lab coat while touring the
manufacturing facilities in 2010. Kitchener has made such contributions to Canada that it has obviously
caught the attention of our Head of State. This also doesn’t count the visits to the area by past
Governors General and Lieutenant Governors (representatives of the Queen).
In the past, the City of Kitchener (then Berlin) honoured past monarch and Mother of Confederation,
Queen Victoria by naming Victoria Park in 1896, a year before Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Queen
Victoria is the only other monarch to celebrate this milestone and Queen Elizabeth II has almost four
more years before she will overcome Queen Victoria’s record and become the longest reigning monarch
in history. The bronze statue of Queen Victoria was erected on Victoria Day in the tenth year of her
death. Renaming Civic Centre Park to Queen Elizabeth II Park would create a nearby Royal sister park to
Victoria Park. How fitting for the Downtown district to be the center of these two parks named after our
two most accomplished and longest reigning Sovereigns.
It is my understanding that Civic Centre Park is a default name and that the park was never officially
named. As a tangible way to celebrate the Queen’s dedication and service to our nation, as well as her
acknowledgment of the contributions Kitchener has made through her visits, I recommend honouring
her with renaming Civic Centre Park to Queen Elizabeth II Park. In terms of abbreviations, residents
could refer to it as QEII Park. It is also fitting that Civic Centre Park is home to the Fallen Firefighter
Memorial and is located in the vicinity of the Centre in the Square, Kitchener Library, the various Courts
of Justice, Kitchener Police, various businesses and churches etc. Personal sacrifice, service, arts,
education, faith, enterprise and justice are all dear to the Queen.
Although I am Chairman of the Waterloo-Wellington Branch of The Monarchist League of Canada, a
national organization which defends and promotes the Canadian Crown, I would like to personally offer
$1000 as a resident. A donation to be used towards a new dedication sign should the park be renamed.
I also offer to assist or organize any renaming ceremony myself and would send an invitation to His
Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario to participate.
Thank you for reading this letter and for any consideration that you may give to this gift to Her Majesty,
a gift that would be a part of the City of Kitchener for generations and a reminder of commitment to
duty, service and devotion to fellow human beings.
Sincerely,
Bradley Barbour
ATTACHMENT C: Letter of Support, Stephen Woodworth Member of Parliament
ATTACHMENT D: Letter of Support, Peter Braid Member of Parliament
ATTACHMENT E: Letter of Support, Dr. Glenn Cartwright
Dr. Glenn Cartwright
100 Queen Street North, suite 705
Kitchener, ON N2H 2H6
Mr. Randy Gosse, City Clerk
City of Kitchener
200 King St. West
Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
May 15, 2012
To Randy Gosse, City Clerk:
As a resident of the City of Kitchener and neighbour to Civic Centre Park, living at 100 Queen Street
North, I support the renaming of Civic Centre Park to Queen Elizabeth II Park. This would be a wonderful
gift from the residents of our city to Her Majesty the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee year.
Sincerely,
Glenn Cartwright, PhD