ZR
11-09-2017, 06:11 PM
Orillia
Another fixture of Couchiching Beach Park could soon see some changes.
A enquiry motion put forward at council committee calls for the three decommissioned cannons at the beach, for decades pointed east toward Rama First Nation, to be moved 30 degrees.
For Coun. Pat Hehn, she's thinking of the children.
"They're pointed directly at Rama," she said. "If you were a little kid and you came into town and saw them pointed where you live (you'd wonder) 'why are they pointed at us?'"
Hehn said she has heard the concern about the cannons echoed by many representatives from Rama over the years. Now, the gesture could be a simple way for the city to show it is a willing partner in reconciliation, specifically with its closest Indigenous neighbours. That's why Mayor Steve Clarke supported Hehn's enquiry motion.
"I really think it's a simple request," Clarke said. "Some of the wheels to do this were in motion already ... There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that our friends in Rama are truly our partners socially, culturally and economically."
Clarke is hopeful the move could possibly tie into another project at Couchiching Beach Park centred around the Samuel de Champlain monument. Some sort of installation is being planned for the area around the monument that will reflect the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons in the area better than the Champlain monument does.
A number of groups, including Rama First Nation and the city's parks, recreation and culture department are engaged in that initiative.
Ever since culture manager Jacqueline Soczka came to work for the city, she's been looking into the history of the cannons: where they came from, why they're here and what's their significance.
But it's still a bit of a mystery to her.
"I'm not sure I've found anything definitive at this point," she said.
Initial research shows the city was given surplus cannons in the 1920s, following the end of the First World War. Two of them are similar size, but one is smaller, given to the city for the sacrifices made by local soldiers in the Battle of the Amiens.
What Soczka hasn't found is anything to indicate why the cannons were situated in such away to where they were pointed directly at the city's Indigenous neighbours across the lake.
"We were asked to be stewards of the cannons and take care of them," she said. "Often, (cannons) point out toward the water. So, it made sense to position them in that way. But we were never a naval port. It was probably more tradition than any reason I can see at this point."
The enquiry motion is up for ratification at Monday's council meeting. If approved, staff will begin its investigation as to how to reorient the cannons and where exactly they should point. Assessments into their condition and the physical viability of moving them will be made then.
Those will have those decisions in association with the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. Representatives from Rama declined to comment on the issue until a later time.
When these cannons would be moved is also yet to be determined, but it is possible the equipment needed to re-erect the Samuel de Champlain monument could also be utilized for this initiative.
Another fixture of Couchiching Beach Park could soon see some changes.
A enquiry motion put forward at council committee calls for the three decommissioned cannons at the beach, for decades pointed east toward Rama First Nation, to be moved 30 degrees.
For Coun. Pat Hehn, she's thinking of the children.
"They're pointed directly at Rama," she said. "If you were a little kid and you came into town and saw them pointed where you live (you'd wonder) 'why are they pointed at us?'"
Hehn said she has heard the concern about the cannons echoed by many representatives from Rama over the years. Now, the gesture could be a simple way for the city to show it is a willing partner in reconciliation, specifically with its closest Indigenous neighbours. That's why Mayor Steve Clarke supported Hehn's enquiry motion.
"I really think it's a simple request," Clarke said. "Some of the wheels to do this were in motion already ... There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that our friends in Rama are truly our partners socially, culturally and economically."
Clarke is hopeful the move could possibly tie into another project at Couchiching Beach Park centred around the Samuel de Champlain monument. Some sort of installation is being planned for the area around the monument that will reflect the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons in the area better than the Champlain monument does.
A number of groups, including Rama First Nation and the city's parks, recreation and culture department are engaged in that initiative.
Ever since culture manager Jacqueline Soczka came to work for the city, she's been looking into the history of the cannons: where they came from, why they're here and what's their significance.
But it's still a bit of a mystery to her.
"I'm not sure I've found anything definitive at this point," she said.
Initial research shows the city was given surplus cannons in the 1920s, following the end of the First World War. Two of them are similar size, but one is smaller, given to the city for the sacrifices made by local soldiers in the Battle of the Amiens.
What Soczka hasn't found is anything to indicate why the cannons were situated in such away to where they were pointed directly at the city's Indigenous neighbours across the lake.
"We were asked to be stewards of the cannons and take care of them," she said. "Often, (cannons) point out toward the water. So, it made sense to position them in that way. But we were never a naval port. It was probably more tradition than any reason I can see at this point."
The enquiry motion is up for ratification at Monday's council meeting. If approved, staff will begin its investigation as to how to reorient the cannons and where exactly they should point. Assessments into their condition and the physical viability of moving them will be made then.
Those will have those decisions in association with the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. Representatives from Rama declined to comment on the issue until a later time.
When these cannons would be moved is also yet to be determined, but it is possible the equipment needed to re-erect the Samuel de Champlain monument could also be utilized for this initiative.