Commentary
In Vancouver, the Pattullo Bridge has been renamed the “stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge” and Trutch Street is now “šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street.” On Vancouver Island, Mount Douglas is now “PKOLS.” On Prince Edward Island, there is a push to rename Confederation Bridge “Epekwitk Crossing.” In Ottawa, the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway is now “Kichi Zībī Mīkan.” And in Saskatoon, John A. Macdonald Road has been replaced with “miyo-wâhkôhtowin Road.”
These names are derived from the indigenous languages of various First Nations local to the areas in question. These are not isolated instances—they are part of an accelerating campaign to rename streets, buildings, and landmarks with indigenous names as part of Canada’s new commitment to “reconciliation.”…