Decision about renaming of Sandy Hill park delayed by COVID-19

Sandy Hill resident Stéphanie Plante is hoping to get the park behind the Sandy Hill Community Centre at 250 Somerset St. East renamed after the late trailblazing Inuit artist, Annie Pootoogook.

During this period when commemorative naming in the City of Ottawa has been put on hold due to COVID-19, Mme. Plante and Action Sandy Hill are seeking anyone who may wish to provide comments on the proposed naming of the park to submit them to stephanie.plante@gmail.com

Since she started her initiative they have received positive feedback from Annie’s family and some local residents. Currently, no parks in the City of Ottawa are named after an Indigenous person. Denise Killick, a retired public servant in the area, sent the following comments on the proposed renaming of the park:

“I fully support this initiative. I met and chatted with Annie many times around our neighbourhood and it was clear that she was very talented. I had no idea she was a famous Inuit artist until she died. I wish you every success in your bid to have the park named in her honour. I can think of no better tribute to her life. Annie will always hold a special place in my heart.”

To learn more about Annie’s artistic legacy, you can read her profile at the National Gallery here: www.gallery.ca/magazine/artists/remembering-annie-pootoogook.