Inuvik renames streets with residential school ties

Inuvik’s town council has approved renaming Stringer Road and a portion of Bompas Street to Ptarmigan Way, streets whose names have ties to residential schools in the Northwest Territories.

The Town of Inuvik confirmed on its website that council approved a bylaw to make the change and that it will work with affected residents and local service providers to update their addresses, as reported by Cabin Radio.

An earlier proposal would have renamed only Bompas Street between Centennial Street and Stringer Road. The version council approved also renames Stringer Road. Inuvik has two Bompas Streets, and the renaming was designed in part to eliminate confusion. The remaining Bompas Street is near the Capital Suites and the Midnight Sun Complex.

Where the name Bompas appears in the N.W.T., it refers to 19th-century northern bishop William Bompas or a relative. Cabin Radio reported that Bompas and a bishop named Isaac Stringer co-founded the institution that became the territory’s first residential school.

Coun. Alana Mero said renaming streets with ties to residential schools is also “an act of reconciliation.” She said the area used to be called Ptarmigan Hill and that the new name is “positive.”

“I think there’s a lot of hard feelings around those kinds of names continuing to be perpetrated,” said deputy mayor Steve Baryluk.

The change was not unanimous in the community. Cynthia Pihlaja, the town’s senior administrative officer, said Inuvik received six written submissions in favour of the change and three opposed. Coun. Jennifer Parrott said the feedback included concerns that the change was overwhelming, that it carries an administrative burden and that road maintenance should come before street names.

“I do recognize there is a burden on residents on that street, that is not ignored,” Baryluk said. “But there’s a much bigger issue at play behind some of these things, and I think it’s time we as a town council took action to change some of these legacy names.”

A representative of the Inuvik district education authority was the only member of the public to speak at an Oct. 14 public hearing on the proposal. The representative spoke against it, saying it could disrupt the routine of children and families.

Pihlaja said the town is notifying emergency services, the post office, Inuvik Gas, NTPC and taxi companies of the new name, and that emergency responders are aware of the previous names. Residents will need to tell their credit card and insurance companies, but they do not have to change their driver’s licences or passports until those expire, she said.

The decision comes as other northern communities continue to examine how places are named. Canada News Media has also reported on territorial planning in the N.W.T. and on the state of long-term water advisories in First Nations communities across the country.

If you find reporting like this useful, consider supporting Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom with no corporate parent.