St. Albert’s Grandin neighbourhood being changed to ‘The Gardens’ on September 1st

People in one of St. Albert’s oldest neighbourhoods will be getting an address change come September 1st.

City council voted to rename the Grandin neighbourhood to “the Gardens” and to rename other city assets to “Garden” including Grandin Road and a community centre.

Named after Bishop Vital Grandin, he was a prominent Catholic in the area but also considered an architect of the residential school system.

St. Albert joins Edmonton in removing Grandin from its neighbourhoods. In 2021, Edmonton renamed a school and LRT station named after the figure.

More than a dozen people took their opinions on the issue to council before they voted.

“If we don’t stop the cancel culture now it will continue to erase our past all at our cost,” said Mark Cassidy, a resident.  

Steve Hofstede, another resident says, “Bishop Grandin should be remembered in history books. But his name should not be on our buildings or neighbourhoods or on streets.”

Leann Hilsen, another resident adds, “I’ve heard people identify Grandin with community. But, community is about more than a name. It’s about creating a space where all voices are heard and valued.”

St. Albert’s mayor tells CityNews she hopes residents get excited about a new name that reflects the community.

“I heard lots of people fearful that we would choose a name that they couldn’t pronounce, I think everyone can get behind the name Gardens,” said Cathy Heron, Mayor of St. Albert.

The City of St. Albert will be letting residents who need to change addresses by mail and driver’s licenses do it for free at registries.

Heron hopes this name change is used to educate and help move forward reconciliation.

“Those that have been harmed by that legacy, will continue to be harmed as long as that name is in our community. Those that have not been harmed, don’t understand.”

Now the process starts to change road signs and give this neighbourhood a renewal.