Winnipeg, MB – Tonight, the City of Winnipeg recognized the renaming of Rooster Town Park as the commemorative name for the park located at Pan Am Pool (25 Poseidon Bay). Councillor John Orlikow was joined in recognizing Rooster Town Park and unveiling an historical marker with the support of former residents of Rooster Town.
The request to rename the park to Rooster Town Park was approved by City Council through the Welcoming Winnipeg: Reconciling our History Policy. Rooster Town Park is named in recognition of the predominantly Métis community that settled in the area now known as Grant Park.
In addition to approving the renaming request, Welcoming Winnipeg’s Committee of Community Members also recommended an educational component to the renaming in the form of a new historical marker acknowledging the name “Pakan Town” (Michif/Anishinaabe), which was the name the residents used to call the area.
"As a lifelong resident of River Heights, I was not aware of the stories and the Indigenous history of this area until meeting and learning from the families of Rooster Town," said Councillor John Orlikow, River Heights – Fort Garry. "Naming this park after the Rooster Town community is an important step in helping educate our residents, but we are certainly not done telling their story. I look forward to working with these families in the future so we can continue those learnings and teachings."
"The renaming of Rooster Town Park means a lot to my dad's family, including his brother and his sisters,” said Darrell Sais, family member of Rooster Town residents. “I'm sure this will mean a great deal to the other families that were removed from their homes in 1960.”
The Welcoming Winnipeg: Reconciling Our History Policy was developed to guide the City in making decisions regarding requests to create new, add to, or remove/rename historical markers and place names and resolve the absence of Indigenous perspectives, experiences and contributions in the stories remembered and commemorated. For more information, see: winnipeg.ca/welcomingwinnipeg.