See, I leave and the city goes to pot. Tsk.

Politically speaking (despite Tremblay’s relationship with Robert Bourassa) it seems clear that Bourassa was a major political figure in the establishing of contemporary Québec. So, it’s not irrational to expect that a street might be named after him sooner or later (Park seems like a good choice since the name appears to be generic and meaningless). I imagine the need to re-name streets after politicians goes hand in hand with the need to establish that a cultural revolution did indeed occur in Québec. Is that wrong?

As far as offensive jingoist statements it seems to pale in comparison to something like the many statues, schools and streets named after Governor Edward Cornwallis in Nova Scotia. Here’s a man who offered bounties for the scalps of Micmac men, women and children effectively promoting their genocide and moved to deport the Acadians (genocide with fewer graveyards), yet the notion of removing his glorification from government-funded buildings is considered absolutely out of the question due to his historical significance.

Someone pointed out that despite being the architect of Québec’s language laws Bourassa also pressed for a state of emergency to be declared during the October Crisis, which brought the military into Montreal. So y’know, even I have my reasons to seriously despise him (I was born downtown during the crisis itself) and yet, I can still appreciate why it might be important to name a street after him. Can’t everyone agree on their mutual hatred of him and just settle for his historical significance?

Personally, I want to petition for Park Street to be re-named “Avenue Cordélia Viau” instead (an early symbol of female oppression and injustice against women in Québec’s darker more Catholic days). Far too many of these street names are going to charisma-challenged and completely un-inspiring male political figures.

I think that’s partially the issue - they didn’t ask anyone. The other part of it is the question of why is there such a need to name streets after dead politicians, particularly if said politician wasn’t a particularly well-loved premier. I’d be a little miffed, too if the street my family has called home for years was suddenly named after some guy I never voted for or even liked.

And if you’re a business changing all your signage and mailing info is just big pain, as well.

Park Extension is named after that street.
I do not count the number of shops named after that street
The biggest parks in Montreal are near, with the sole exception of Lafontaine.
It has multiple different cultural communities that are attached to that street.

I do understand why it has been renamed for the lowest part, as it’s downtown and not Park Extension anymore.

Like it was said in Journal de Montréal I read at my diner a few days ago, “I’d wish they would put more money on repairing the street and less on changing its name”. I agree.

We’re hoping the new council we elect next month will decide to run the town instead.