A park and a trail in Guelph could soon be renamed to recognize the contributions of Black Guelph veterans during the First World War.
Late last year, the City of Guelph invited the public to be a part of the naming process by encouraging them to submit formal names for three parks and one trail.
After receiving over 100 submissions to rename the assets, the naming committee finalized four names after consultations with the Guelph Black Heritage Society and family members of historic figures the parks are to be named after.
If approved, one of the four parks will also recognize Guelph's Italian immigrants who migrated after the Second World War.
“We are pleased to support the City of Guelph Naming Committee's recommendation to Council to name a park, Courtney, Goines and Mallott Park, and a trail, No. 2 Construction Battalion Trail, in honour of the courageous Black men of Guelph who served during the First World War,” reads an open letter to the city by the Guelph Black Heritage Society.
The proposed name for a park in the Dallan Subdivision is Courtney, Goines and Mallott Park after members of Canada’s first and only segregated, all-Black, non-combatant unit known as the Black Battalion — Henry Francis Courtney, Victor Goines, Gordon Goines and Tom Mallott.
This was at a time when Black men were denied the right to fight in war because commanding officers viewed them as unbefitting to fight a 'white man’s war.' The Black Battalion grew to over 600 men and saw Goines receive the British War and Victory Medals and Courtney receive the rank of corporal.
The proposed name for the Dallan Subdivision Trail, right by the Dallan Subdivision Park, is No. 2 Construction Battalion Trail to further emphasize the story of the Black Battalion. The park is also set to be redesigned and will undergo construction in June.
“It has taken decades to recognize the efforts of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force and to acknowledge their loyalty and bravery to a country that initially denied them the chance to serve,” reads the staff report.
The proposed name for Oliver Street Park is San Giorgio Morgeto Park to recognize the many Guelph Italian immigrants from the village of San Giorgio Morgeto who came to Guelph to escape the poverty of post-Second World War. The immigrants were the founders of ‘Little Italy’ in St. Patrick’s Ward.
“Guelph’s Italian immigrants were among the grocers, stonemasons, bricklayers and carpenters who built the homes during Guelph’s post-war housing boom. Some were entrepreneurs who established their own companies, like Durose Welding, Barzotti Woodworking, and Gorgi’s Construction, while others went into the real estate and travel businesses. The historical significance of the families from San Giorgio Morgeto is mapped into Guelph and their descendants continue to be an integral part of its growing prosperity,” reads the report.
The proposed name for Skinner Drive Park is Hammill Family Park, named after Eileen Hammill who served as the president of the Guelph Historical Society in the 1960s. Her role in the GHS led to the establishment of the Guelph Civic Museum and the preservation of many heritage buildings in Guelph.
