The New West Progressives council candidates are pledging to reverse city council’s decision to ditch the Royal City moniker.
At its July 11 meeting, council approved a motion by Mayor Jonathan Cote to begin the process of updating the city’s logo and phasing out the use of the “Royal City” moniker in its branding. The motion also calls on the city to develop a plan to engage with the community in the development “of a new brand identity that is inclusive and allows for collective pride in our city.”
“This issue has come out of left field, and rather quickly it’s become the number one topic of discussion on the doorsteps when we’re canvassing,” said NWP city council candidate Daniel Fontaine. “There was no meaningful consultation with the citizens of New Westminster, including Indigenous Peoples. Sadly, a lack of consultation and proper engagement has become the hallmark of Community First politicians over the last four years. Far too often they simply act first, then consult later.”
The New West Progressives are calling on city council to reverse its decision to drop the Royal City moniker as part of the city’s longstanding brand. The NWP plans to present the petition, which had amassed more than 415 signatures within 24 hours, to council in September
Cote’s motion says New Westminster is committed to building a community that is equitable, inclusive and welcoming. It goes on to say that the city embraces reconciliation as a path forwarding to charting a new relationship with Indigenous people and Nations.
When speaking to his motion, Cote said it’s about recognizing that there are many other parts of the community and other parts of our histories that also need to be to be highlighted and reflected in the city branding.
The New West Progressives, however, say that none of the 94 recommendations made by the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission speak to issues like the rebranding of cities or removing the names on streets, public buildings and structures.
The NWP press release goes on to quote Senator Murray Sinclair, chair of the TRC, who told the Globe and Mail in 2017 that "the problem I have with the overall approach to tearing down statues and buildings is that is counterproductive to ... reconciliation because it almost smacks of revenge or smacks of acts of anger, but in reality, what we are trying to do, is we are trying to create more balance in the relationship.”
At its July 11 meeting, council voted 6-1 in favour of the motion.
“If they’re so confident in what they’re doing, given the election is only a few months away, why not just include a pledge to remove Royal City as part of their platform?” NWP council candidate karima budhwani said in a news release. “This would provide voters with an opportunity to decide at the ballot box whether it’s time for us to begin this costly rebranding process.”
Along with Cote and Coun. Mary Trentadue, who aren’t seeking re-election, Community First mayoral candidate Patrick Johnstone and council candidates Chinu Das, Jaimie McEvoy and Nadine Nakagawa supported the motion. Coun. Chuck Puchmayr, the only council member who has not stated whether he’s seeking re-election and isn’t on the Community First slate, was the only councillor to oppose Cote’s motion.
Puchmayr joked that Cote had left council with “a nice parting grenade” before the Oct. 15 election.
While he’s been supportive of doing away with the crown logo on the city’s letterhead and with softening the use of the Royal City, Puchmayr said council’s decision was premature and was done without adequate community consultation.
“The emails I'm getting on this are all opposed,” he later told the Record. “They are written by people that have lived in the city for generations. And, they're furious.”
Puchmayr said it’s important to have a fulsome discussion with all interested parties, including citizens and businesses that have Royal City in their name. He said council should be provided with details about the cost implications of the plan.
“It's not something that you can just launch and hope it has a good landing, because this has not had a good landing,” he said. “You can't be creating winners and losers.
Puchmayr said the city decided to remove the Judge Begbie statue from in front of the courthouse in response to a request from the Tsilqhot’in First Nation, but, to the best of his knowledge, the city hasn’t received an official request from any First Nations as part of the city’s reconciliation efforts.
Puchmayr noted, however, that some First Nations chiefs who attended a July 18 ceremony in New West voiced support for the city’s plan to do away with the crown logo and Royal City moniker.
