Write a Letter for Leamy Road

Published by Bianca Angel on 2010-07-08

Request from Rick Henderson, member of West Quebecers

Hello,

I am putting on my community activist hat as I send this request to you regarding what I think is an issue that should be important to us all: the heritage we share as members of the English-speaking community.

More specifically, this is about a decision that Gatineau City Council has made to change the name of one of the most historically important roads in the city's history, a road that was always known as the Leamy Road in Hull. The City Council has based its decision on the recommendation from the city's Commission de toponymie, which did not know the history of the Leamy Road until after the recommendation was made. The Commission did not consult with any of the Historical Societies and did not have the courtesy to consult with the Algonquin people, themselves. I have spoken directly with Gilbert Whiteduck, chief of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Reserve, and I am hopeful he will be getting in touch with the city, as well, on this matter.

A bit of background:
When Philemon Wright first arrived in this area in 1800 he brought his own family, 5 other families and 33 labourers to an absolute wilderness. He built his first home, a log shanty, on the banks of the Gatineau River, just north of what is now called Leamy Lake (Philemon had named it Columbia Pond) and gave the name of his first settlement the Gatineau Farm. In very short order Philemon Wright and the other settlers began to develop what would eventually become Wright's Town and later Hull on the banks of the Ottawa River.

The Gatineau farm itself was handed down from Philemon Sr. to Philemon Jr.'s daughter, Erexina who married Andrew Leamy. Leamy, of course, is an historical personage himself, both for his contributions to the development of Hull's lumber industry and for his considerable contributions to the social and cultural development of the city. The road which led from the Leamy Farm (formerly the Gatineau Farm) became known forever more as the Leamy Road. It is a road that obviously still leads to the cradle of the city's heritage and history, indeed the cradle of Ottawa-Hull's heritage and history. 

Gatineau City council made a decision in April to rename the Leamy Road (now bearing the incorrect name, Chemin du Lac-Leamy) to be called Chemin Atawe, because no one remembered the history. Once the name is changed, the history will be once again forgotten; this time, probably forever.

An article from the Citizen:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/English+under+siege+three+languages/3004736/story.html

An article on West Quebecers' web site:

http://www.westquebecers.ca/?action=show&lid=11D7E-GQVKL-29AZ7&mid=32

What I am asking of you:

In order for this decision to be reversed, the City Council has to be convinced that the citizens of this region are aware of our history and deeply committed to seeing it preserved. So far, I have been in touch several times with City Council and they have assured me that they will be discussing it further, in September. I have also asked for support from the Aylmer Heritage Association and the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network.

I need you to send an email to the City of Gatineau Mayor and City councilors expressing your displeasure at their decision. To make this as easy as possible, I am providing, below, the email addresses of all of the councilors and mayor of the City of Gatineau:

'maire@gatineau.ca'; 'tasse.denis@gatineau.ca'; 'champagne.nicole@gatineau.ca'; 'angers.luc@gatineau.ca'; 'bouthillette.patsy@gatineau.ca'; 'goneau.sylvie@gatineau.ca'; 'desylva.joseph@gatineau.ca'; 'lauzon.stephane@gatineau.ca'; 'pedneaud-jobin.maxime@gatineau.ca'; 'boucher.yvon@gatineau.ca'; 'philion.pierre@gatineau.ca'; 'laferriere.denise@gatineau.ca'; 'martin.patrice@gatineau.ca'; 'apollon.mireille@gatineau.ca'; 'riel.alain@gatineau.ca'; 'tremblay.maxime@gatineau.ca'; 'laframboise.andre@gatineau.ca'; 'psenak.stefan@gatineau.ca'; 'montreuil.luc@gatineau.ca'

Please help put a stop to this. If no one else speaks up, there is little chance that City Council will change their minds.

Thanks for your help,

Rick Henderson