Quebec historian defends plan to change Vimy park name in honour of Jacques Parizeau
The Montreal borough of Outremont is set to vote on a plan to change the name of Vimy Park to Jacques-Parizeau Park. The decision has provoked the ire of critics ranging from the Vimy Foundation to the former Premier of Ontario, Bob Rae.
In WWI, 3,600 Canadian soldiers died and thousands more were wounded in the four-day battle at Vimy Ridge.
Jacques Parizeau, a respected economist before entering politics, brought Quebec to the brink of independence during his time as premier.
Jean Savard is the President of the Société d'histoire d'Outremont. He explains to As It Happens host Carol Off why he supports the renaming of the park.
Jean Savard: Jacques Parizeau lived there for almost 40 years just in front of the park. It's a very small street. His brother lived nearby. His first wife, who is a famous writer, has a monument in the park ... so, it seemed only natural for Société d'histoire to make the suggestion that the Parc de Vimy be changed to Jacques Parizeau.
Carol Off: How do you react to people who are saying, especially the Vimy Foundation, this is an act of "historical amnesia"?
JS: They are misinformed. We did not delete completely the name de Vimy from Outremont. It's still there, they don't know that it's not erased from the city. It's still there, it's respected. But there were two de Vimy, one street, one park, and as for any other park that bears the same name as a street, that is changing. I say it's a tempest in a teapot.
For more on this story, take a listen to our full interview with Jean Savard. Outremont's council is expected to vote on the name change on June 20.
With files from CBC News