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Ron Francis gets a street

"I find it very uncomfortable that we're being put in this position, to ask to name a street after an individual no matter what they've done, because we don't have a policy on naming streets." Ward 2 Councillor Susan Myers
RonFrancis2000

The lower part of Bruce Street adjacent to the Essar Centre will be renamed to honour Hockey Hall of Famer Ron Francis, City Council decided tonight.

"With all due respect to the current and past athletes in hockey, there's nobody in this city who's accomplished what he has. And I don't think we'll see one in our lifetime," said Ward 1 Councillor Paul Christian, who spearheaded the drive to honour the two-time Stanley Cup winner, Number 3 on the all-time list of NHL regular season games played.

There are no civic addresses on that section of Bruce Street, between Queen and Bay.

The cost of mounting a plaque on a decorative boulder there and surrounding it with decorative brick is estimated at $7,000 to $8,000.

Changing four banners on the exterior of the Essar Centre would cost an additional $5,600 to $7,200, city staff reckon.

Ward 2 Councillor Susan Myers preferred an alternative proposal - naming the Essar Centre's VIP suite after the NHL great.

The cost of that option was estimated at between $5,000 and $10,000, but Councillor Christian wasn't convinced, arguing that the Essar Centre hosts only 40 to 50 hockey games a year, with 15 or 20 guests in the VIP suite at any given time.

"There's only a handful of people who are going to see it," Christian said.

Councillor Myers said she still needed to see hard numbers on the cost of the various options.

Myers also maintained the city needs a policy on naming streets after living individuals.

"I find it very uncomfortable that we're being put in this position, to ask to name a street after an individual no matter what they've done, because we don't have a policy on naming streets," Myers said.

"I think that to name a street after someone is one of the highest honours that we can give.  And we do not have a policy. We need a policy," she told the meeting.

The Sault has a bronze bust of Roberta Bondar but it wasn't commissioned by the city. It was donated by the Knights of Columbus, she said.

Notwithstanding Myers' insistence on exact costs for each option, she said she was fine with proceeding immediately with the Essar Centre VIP suite idea.

"I think we can do it. We can do it now. We don't need to wait for the budget. Because I don't think it's significant dollars."

Ward 5 Councillor Frank Fata said we already have local precedents for naming stuff after living persons.

"We named a street after Ken Danby, right next to the Art Gallery of Algoma," Fata said. "Now we're naming a street next door to the Essar Centre after a hockey player....I don't know why we're arguing like this is the first time we've ever done this."

Ward 3 Councillor Judy Hupponen preferred creating some scholarships in Francis' name.

Ward 2 Newbie Sandra Hollingsworth thought we should consider devoting a special attraction in which prominent Saultites in all fields could be recognized.

Ward 1 Councillor Steve Butland scoffed at the thought that any kind of naming policy was necessary and he rejected any idea of a statue gallery as too costly.

Ward 5 Councillor Marchy Bruni said he was disturbed by tonight's debate.

"We're talking about Ronnie Francis here," Bruni said. "If he tuned in and is listening to our debate tonight, I think he would be embarrassed. I believe the street would be more appropriate. He's been a positive role model to our city....I think a policy is required."

Now that City Council has decided to rename Lower Bruce Street, Councillor Christian wants the city to celebrate with a celebration, a big celebration of Ron Francis.


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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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