CBC has reported that Mayor Trembly has backed down and chosen not to rename Park Avenue. So in short "WE WON THE DAY!!!". A little late, and perhaps prompted more by Bourassa's family than the "Save Parc Avenue" advocates, but good on him for coming to his senses.

Yay!

Quebec Toponymy Commission have delayed their decision regarding renaming Avenue du Parc to Avenue Robert Bourassa. CBC radio has reported that members of the Toponomy Commission believe that they may have found a compromise that will both honor Robert Bourassa and satisfy those wishing to save Park Avenue.

CJAD has reported that "Regardless of what the toponymy commission does, the city of Montreal, though, has the final word."

Montreal City Weblog points to an article in the Devoir that suggests that the new intersection of Ave des Pins and Avenue du Parc be named "Place Robert-Bourassa".

Keep your fingers crossed, tomorrow the Quebec Place Names Commission may render a descision on whether or not to approve Tremblay's request to change the name of Avenue du Parc to Avenue Robert Brouassa.

On a side note I checked in with the Save Park Avenue site, and IMHO they are now playing a game different from that of trying to save Avenue du Parc. While I support them in their efforts to save the street name, I absolutely do not support the publishing of letters bashing of Helen Fotopolous. I suspect that people are starting to play out their own agendas and hoping that Save Park Avenue supporters will fall behind them. I want it to be known that I don't support any political agenda other than that of saving the name.

The first time I ever walked down Bernard Street O., back in 1993, I had to stop, scratch my head, walk away, return, stare, scratch, and look closer… Riddell was possibly one of the most interesting and confusing places I’d ever had the fortune to stumble upon.

The windows of Riddell contain a befuddling arrangement of objects, with a diversity encompassing 1950’s kitsch, African masks, taxidermied animals, and of course Riddell's raison d’etre fishing tackle and supplies. At the time I didn’t stop to read the clippings posted near the door, and I walked away thinking of the place as an object of neighborhood grandeur and mystery. Over the years I’ve included the storefront on many of my micro-tours of Mile-End, but I’ve always left its mysterious nature intact (by never reading the press clippings).

Today I read the press clippings; the store is owned by George Riddell and has been open since 1950. Riddell himself is an avid fisherman who started fishing in 1937, and the wares of his store (the sinkers, lead weights, and lures) are, and have always been, made by his own hand. From the article clipped from the Gazette (to the right of his door), I learned that he’s made fishing converts of both the owner of Bernard’s Chinese dep (apparently Riddell’s protégé) and the people at the Thai restaurant located on corner of Bernard and St. Urbain.

I must confess I’ve never had the courage to breach an entry. But apparently if I were to do so I’d find Riddell sitting back behind the counter enjoying a cigarette and a beer.

I may now have read the clippings, but Riddell is still a worthwhile tourist destination and place of neighborhood majesty. The original, pre sign law, name of the store was "Riddell Fishing Tackle & Appliances". You can read more about it and him in a Outdoor Canada Interview.

I just added 176 more photos of Mile-End specific graffiti to the Photos or if you prefer Flash Photos section of this site.

Montreal City Weblog points to this very cool collection of old Park Avenue Photos posted to Flickr by Nikolaos Karabineris. The pic to the left is the YMCA at the corner of St. Viateur circa 1912, and the one below is the corner of Laurier and Avenue du Parc circa 1910. It's interesting to see the Montreal and Mile-End of the past.

Hanne from Midnight Poutine points to a good summary in the Gazette about the current state of "the Park Avenue crisis. Brings a little hope back to the situation.

The truth about the bagel straight from the mouth of American Public Radio. The Montreal bagel is the best!!! Take that everywhere else, and by everywhere else I mean New York. But then again Montreal everything is better... Also, congrats to St. Viateur Bagel for being the only Bagel shop (and by shop I mean palace) mentioned (and just for existing).

I like the Coolopolis take on the renaming of Avenue du Parc.

Montreal City Weblog points out that this article in La Press advises not to give up on the Avenue du Parc name change. Maybe there's still hope that the Commission de Toponymie will rule against it.

Save Avenue Du Parc has a guide to writing letters to the Committee, but it's best to do it soon because they may be deciding on the 16th of this month (Jan).

It felt good to come home yesterday.

Whenever I return to Montreal I feel a huge sense of relief. That's how I know that Montreal is my home and the place where I belong. I've lived in this city for 13 years now, and over the years I've found it to be both a beautiful and a hard place to root myself. I've thought about leaving a number of times, but I can never think of anywhere that I would rather be. I love Montreal, I love Mile-End, and despite it's periodic difficulties I love my life here.

This a snippet of the Save Park Avenue protest, which unfortunately didn't work.

It's official, Montreal does have the best Bagel. At least better than Toronto... though I think we could take New York as well. In blind taste tests we beat Toronto to a pulp. The only unfortunate news from this study is that Fairmount Bagels came in first over St. Viateur Bagel (but my opinion remains the same).

SAVE FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (Sat 16 at the Ukrainian Federation): Jorane (I love Jorane), Stars (great album), Sam Roberts (I really like one song), Murray Lightburn from the Dears (the Dears are good), Yonder Hill, Dishwasher, Miracle Fortress, Adam Brown, Socalled, Giselle Webber (Giselle Numba 1), Subtitle and Secret Choi.

It's a big show to benefit the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition . Don't know if there will be tickets left, but I'm going to find out at lunch.

Well the tree sale in the park at the corner of St. Laurent and St. Joseph is in full swing (it's more of an event than a sale), and as I walked home from the souk@sat yesterday evening I noticed that they had a pretty good band playing. It was interesting because the members of the band were standing in separate elevated enclosures. I didn't stay for very long, but I intend to go back and spend some time there drinking warm spiced wine.

Geneviève Grandbois makes the most beautiful, tasty, and interesting chocolates. Once again I bought a couple of boxes to bring home for Christmas.

Boa has a movie night (announced Midnight Poutine). Who knew? Good idea though. If I hadn't started searching out local blogs and such... I'm not going to go see the Killer (John Woo) tonight, but I'll probably go see some movie some night.

Boa
5301 St. Laurent

Within the next couple of weeks please write snail mail letters "officially" protesting the "Avenue du Parc" name change to:

Commission de toponymie
750, boulevard Charest Est, rez-de-chaussée
Québec (Québec)
G1K 9M1

Hello,

As you are by now aware, Montreal City Council decided by a 40 to 22 vote to ignore the anger and dismay of hundreds of thousands of Montrealers and voted to change the names of Park Avenue and Bleury Street.

In my opinion, this decision was made with no credible public consultations and City Council was never given any explanation as to why Park Avenue was chosen or why the the objections of historical societies, heritage organizations, citizens groups from across the city and large numbers of calls and emails demanding consultations to find a more appropriate way to honour the former premier were ignored.

Even so the battle is not yet over. According to law, the Quebec Place Names Commission (Commission de la topynomie) is obligated to officialize the name changes and publish in the Official Gazette of Quebec.

I thus urge all those who oppose the name change to write to the Commission stating their objections. Below please find the Commission's address.

Please send a letter as I am uncertain that an email constitutes and official objection for the Commission.

Note - the Commission next meets on Januray 16, 2007. Letters should be sent in the coming weeks.

Commission de toponymie
750, boulevard Charest Est, rez-de-chaussée
Québec (Québec)
G1K 9M1


Yours truly,

Marvin Rotrand
City Councillor