Should we name this place after Mayor James L. McIntyre?

Formal City Hall portrait of former Sault Mayor Jim McIntyre

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is moving to honour James L. McIntyre, and renaming Centennial Library after the former mayor appears to be at or near the top of a list of initial ideas.

A small city committee held an initial meeting today with Mary-Ann Wilson, McIntyre's daughter, to determine the family's wishes.

McIntyre, who served as mayor from 1960 to 1964, died in a pedestrian accident in February, 2015.

Wilson said that after her father retired, he went to the main library branch daily.

"He was a voracious reader," she said.

"He went there every morning. He liked to read the New York Tmes."

McIntyre also played a major role in developing the waterfront and the family would support renaming the downtown main library branch after him, Wilson told the committee.

Mayor Christian Provenzano said that city staff will prepare a list of municipal 'assets' (buildings, parks, etc.) that are currently unnamed but he cautioned that there aren't many.

"There isn't a lot left that doesn't have a name on it," the mayor said.

Other ideas discussed included naming the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service headquarters or the 'welcoming feature' parkette across from the International Bridge after McIntyre.

Mayor McIntyre chaired the local police commission for a quarter century and also headed the International Bridge Authority.

Ward 2 Councillor Sandra Hollingsworth said she liked the library suggestion.

Mayor Provenzano said consultations would be required with the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library Board but he said he would take care of that before the Committee to Honour Mayor McIntyre meets again.

It shouldn't take too many more meetings to get the issue decided, the mayor remarked.