Royal Canadian Legion condemns move to rename Montreal's Vimy Park

The Royal Canadian Legion and the family of JacquesParizeau are both disappointed with how Montreal's Outremont borough is going about renaming VimyPark after the former Quebec premier.

The president of the Royal Canadian Legion's Quebec Command, Norman Shelton, said the organization only found out about the move to rename the park through news reports this week.

Lisette Lapointe, JacquesParizeau's widow, said this controversy couldn't come at a worse time for the family as they grieve the one-year anniversary of Parizeau's death.

• Quebec historian defends plan to change Vimy park name in honour of Jacques Parizeau
• 'This guy tried breaking Canada up': Critics slam plan to rename Vimy Park after Jacques Parizeau

The Outremont borough'srequest to change the name was approved by the City of Montreal's executive committee this weekand will be voted on bythe city's municipal council next Monday.

With some notice, Shelton said, he would have mobilized Montreal's Legion branches against the move.

"They could have given us more notice that they're meeting on this, but we've got four days, it's very sad," Shelton said.

The park may be small, he said, but it carries a lot of meaning in Outremont, which lost many local men in the First World War.

"There's a lot of history in that park, especially for our First World War veterans," Shelton said, adding it's every legionnaire's job to remember that sacrifice.

Familyupset

Lapointe saidshe heard rumours last year that the borough was considering the name change, but was never formally informed about it.

She said when she called the mayor of Outremont's office after the controversy started boiling over, she was told the historical society is responsible for the decision.

Parizeau was"really close to history and he always had a huge respect for this victory on the part of the Canadian army," Lapointetold Radio-Canada.

Lapointeadded thatVimyPark is onVimyAvenue and that the avenue is maintaining its name, which makes any controversy particularly sad for the family.

Proposal criticized

Criticism of the move has come from across Canada, with many opposed to renaming Vimy Park after Parizeau, who led Quebec's sovereignty movement in the 1995 referendum on independence.

Sheldon, however, said he's not opposed to memorializingParizeau Vimy is just the wrong park for that purpose.

"We've got enough roads in Montreal, enough parks that they can give to him. Just don't pick on Vimy Park, where there's a lot of memories for everybody there," he said.

• Critics slam Montreal's plan to rename Vimy Park after Jacques Parizeau

'Calls galore'

Shelton said he's been getting "calls galore" since news of the proposed name change emerged this week.

Many share his disappointment with the proposal.

"I just can't believe it,"he said."That's how important our history is right there."

Noting the attendance of Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and Outremont Mayor Marie Cinq-Mars at Remembrance Day services in the city, Shelton said they should have known better.

"What are you doing there if you don't remember?"

Coderre: 'I've been to Vimy'

Coderredefended the name change, saying it's not evidence ofany disrespect to veterans.

"I've been to Vimy," he said.

He said the park is bordered by Vimy Street and Vimy Avenue, and the change was requested by Outremont'shistorical society to honour Parizeau, who lived near the park.

"It's the borough's decision to make, and they reached it unanimously," he said.

• Does Vimy mean something different to Quebecers?