HRM wants help picking new name for Cornwallis Street

The Halifax Regional Municipality wants help picking a new name for Cornwallis Street.

Following a recommendation from the Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History, last fall HRM asked the public to propose new names for the road. They received over 3,300 suggestions.

Since then, an advisory group has narrowed the list down to 15, which have been divided into two categories; commemorative names and non-commemorative names. 

The commemorative suggestions then went through the commemorative naming application and review process. Those five options were then approved by regional council last month.

Now HRM has launched a second survey, where Haligonians can pick their top three:

• African Baptist Street – The New Horizons Baptist Church on Cornwallis Street was designated the mother church of the African Baptist Association. The chapel’s founding Pastor was Reverend Richard Preston.
• Dr Alfred Waddell Street – One of the first black doctors to graduate from Dalhousie University. Dr Waddell dedicated his life to providing medical care to isolated and marginalized and underserved communities while speaking out against racial injustice, oppression, and segregation.
• Freedom Way
• Honour Street
• L’nu Street – The term the Mi'kmaq use for themselves, their autonum, meaning us the people. It is derived from the word for tongue. (Pronunciation “ell-nu”)
• Nitap Street – Mi’kmaq for friend. The Mi’kmaw have recently starting celebrating Nitap Day in the Indigenous Schools (Pronunciation “Ne-dap”)
• Nora Bernard Street – Residential school survivor and prominent activist who successfully demanded compensation for residential school survivors. Recipient of the Order of Nova Scotia.
• Pjila’si Street – Mi’kmaq for welcome. Pjila’si means so much more than just welcome. It means that you are an honoured guest (Pronunciation “epp-chi-laa-si”)
• Pride Street
• Reconciliation Ave
• Rocky Jones Street – African Nova Scotia lawyer, community volunteer and political activist in the areas of human rights, race and poverty. Recipient of the Order of Nova Scotia.
• Samqwan Street – Mi’kmaq for water. The Mi’kmaw believe that water is essential, and we have a duty to protect mother earth and our water. (Pronunciation “sam-hkwan”)
• Treaty Avenue
• Truth Avenue
• Wantaqo’ti Street – Mi’kmaq for peacefulness (Pronunciation “won-duck-hoooe-dee”)

The survey is open until Tuesday, September 6.

At that point, the advisory group will review the results and put together a report with one recommended name and three alternatives. Regional council will then make the final decision.