Mayor Jonathan Coté accused of throwing parting “grenade” in type of movement that might show controversial
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Departing New Westminster mayor Jonathan Coté’s movement to rebrand town, together with phasing-out the “Royal Metropolis” moniker, was authorized by council on Monday evening.
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Coté — who’s a three-term councillor and two-term mayor — stated that when he obtained concerned in municipal politics, metropolis council was inspecting whether or not to drop the “Royal Metropolis” moniker, however backed away over neighborhood considerations.
“I feel lots has modified prior to now 15 years, significantly when it comes to the work we have to do as an inclusive neighborhood and to proceed on our journey of reconciliation and this can be a actually vital step,” stated Coté, who is just not in search of re-election.
“We have now many histories that have to be celebrated and centered upon and we have now many histories that existed earlier than we have been a metropolis that have to be mirrored on. Though branding is symbolic, it makes an vital assertion.”
Coté stated it was inappropriate that he sends letters to First Nations on New Westminster stationary with a “colonial crown on high.”
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“The time has come for us to section it out,” he stated.
The town’s emblem is centred round a golden crown and linked to Queen Victoria’s choice within the 1860s to call town after the enclave of Westminster in London. New Westminster was based because the capital of The Colony of British Columbia in 1858 on the unceded territory of the Qayqayt First Nation.
Coté additionally requested metropolis employees to develop a plan to have interaction the neighborhood within the improvement of a brand new model identification “that’s inclusive and permits for collective satisfaction within the metropolis.”
A number of New Westminster companies use the royal moniker: together with Royal Metropolis Centre mall, Royal Metropolis Taxi, Royal Metropolis Jewellers Royal Metropolis Manor and the New Westminster Royals hockey staff. Coun. Nadine Nakagawa is a member of the Royal Metropolis Curling Membership.
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The one dissenting vote got here from Coun. Chuck Puchmayr who stated Coté had left a “good parting grenade” with what he believes can be a controversial choice.
Coté disagreed and stated that the title change had been on his thoughts for a number of years.
“I don’t consider I’ve left a grenade,” he stated.
Council hopeful Daniel Fontaine, who’s operating within the October election with the New Westminster Progressive Electors Coalition Society, stated there ought to have been public session earlier than the vote was made.
“Our solely indoor pool is closed for 2 years, our aquatic centre challenge is $8 million over-budget, property taxes are skyrocketing and that is what council desires to give attention to. Is it time to undertake this within the dying days of a regime?,” Fontaine wrote in a letter to Postmedia Information.
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