INNISFAIL – Town staff put a new Community Naming and Recognition Policy on council’s table last week but it met with worries that many worthy but humble and quiet citizens could be missed with the selection process turning out to be a “popularity contest.”
“I'm always a little bit reluctant in these things that it becomes the popularity contest,” said mayor Jean Barclay. “There are so many people in our community that do so much without any recognition. We wouldn't even know who they are, right?
“They're contributing financially, they're contributing volunteer hours, and they do it quietly.”
Barclay’s concerns followed a report presented by Erica Vickers, the town’s director of corporate services, that informed council the proposed policy was inspired by last year’s local Stanley Cup Day from Innisfailian Ray Bennett, now an assistant coach with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, who sent an email to express his appreciation for the town to ensure the event’s success.
Vickers told council administration reviewed other municipal commemorative naming policies while Innisfail’s draft policy was being developed.
She said the purpose of the policy is to provide guidance regarding commemorative naming of town-owned facilities, districts or lands through a consistent evaluation framework and approval process.
“As well as to honour and recognize significant contributions to the community through public service, community volunteerism or outstanding achievement by individuals, groups of individuals or community organizations,” said Vickers, adding the draft policy did not apply to naming requests under the town’s Park Donation & Memorial Program or the Advertising and Sponsorship Program.
She said council would retain the right to not name certain facilities and assets of broad importance, such as the Innisfail Twin Arena or aquatic centre.
Vickers said there was a challenge finding what other Alberta communities were doing with commemorative naming and recognition, noting she only found “two or three” that were available.
However, she was still able to offer council a list of eight points of consideration that could be applied during applicant evaluations.
They included the person or persons may have historical significance to Innisfail and its development; demonstrated excellence, courage, or exceptional service to Innisfail, Alberta, or to Canada; may have extraordinary community service records or have risked their lives in extraordinary circumstances or given their lives to save or protect others.
Vickers said another point was that contributions of the individuals or groups must be well documented and broadly acknowledged within the community.
She advised council that commemorative naming could even be with streets, with the same address maintained with a commemorative nameplate above it.
Coun. Janice Wing wanted to know if there was a term limit to the commemorative naming of a recipient, or if the intent was to have it in perpetuity.
Vickers said the current proposed policy did not set a term but one could be added. She also said all costs of the commemoration would be borne by the applicant at no cost to the town.
“We could put in a time frame so that it wouldn't be still here 100 years from now. That would be a way to circumvent that potential problem,” said Vickers.
Councillors Wing and Dale Dunham both wanted administration to do more research for council to consider “what a naming program might actually look like.
“I think clarity will be important,” said Wing. “Lots of towns have historical content or context that visitors can see. I think from that tourism perspective I think it makes it a little bit more interesting.
“I think we have a little bit more work to do.”
Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, was asked to weigh in and he noted a new Community Naming and Recognition Policy could attract a “flood of applications” and then become “political on popularity versus measurement to the contribution to the community.”
Coun. Don Harrison said he worried that someone would be missed and wanted more work and research done on the assessment criteria.
“Because at times, it just becomes a popularity contest,” said Harrison.
Administration will now conduct more work and research into the proposal and bring it back to council at a later date.
