Tag Archives: Renaming Powell River

Indigenous Nations, Politics

City Councillor reflects on lessons learned so far on potential Powell River name change

Content warning: This story discusses colonial history and its negative impacts on Indigenous people of Canada.

CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

In upcoming Powell River City Council strategic planning meetings, Coun. Cindy Elliott looks forward to making decisions on recommendations from the Joint Working Group she participated in last year.

The group was set up following an official name change request to the municipality in May 2021 by the Tla’amin Nation Executive Council. Powell River currently carries the name of Dr. Israel Wood Powell, who was the first BC Superintendent of Indian Affairs and instrumental in the implementation of colonial practices and structures such as residential schools.

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Community, Indigenous Nations

Chippy west coast town starts its process to change a name

qathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Who’s leading the process to consider a name change for the City of Powell River? 

Tla’amin Executive Council members Erik Blaney and Brandon Peters, City of Powell River councillors Cindy Elliot and Maggie Hathaway, Mayor Dave Formosa, Hegus John Hackett, plus Stewart Alsgard (former City Mayor), Harmony Johnson (vice-president, Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation for Providence Health Care), Davis Mckenzie (principal of Toxw oxw Communications), and Lyn Adamson (previous executive director for LIFT Powell River) – these are the locals who in 2021, came together to form the City of Powell River’s name change committee, known as the Joint Working Group.

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Community, Indigenous Nations

Discussions continue on name change for City of Powell River

CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

The City of Powell River has established a working group with members of the Tla’amin First Nation to dig into how to best honour the Tla’amin request for the municipality to change its name. But there is no great rush to the finish line.

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Community

Could this be the model for a city’s name change?

quathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Back in 2001, when Stewart Alsgard was mayor of Powell River, he kicked off a project to redevelop the downtown waterfront area around the Westview Ferry Terminal. City planners had imagined an attractive Seawalk, a pier, a park and more. 

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