(Submitted photo/Mel Rothenburger).

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: A bridge to reconciliation has already been built in Kamloops

Jan 22, 2022 | 7:13 AM

A BRIDGE TO RECONCILIATION is within our grasp right here in Kamloops.

I mean symbolically, at least, although the international attention the community received after last year’s discoveries at the residential school demands substantive progress on resolving historic and current grievances.

There are times when symbols seem like empty promises; at other times they offend. We build war memorials and keep going to war. We erect statues and then tear them down when they displease us.

Anyway, I was browsing media the other day when I came across a letter to the editor to the Victoria Times Colonist. It was a one-sentence letter, suggesting simply that the Johnson Street Bridge be renamed Reconciliation Bridge.

Interesting idea, I thought. Then my mind quickly turned to our own community, and then to the Halston Bridge. That bridge was completed in 1984 after a controversy in which then-chief Mary Leonard threatened to blockade construction.

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As symbols of reconciliation go, what would be better than renaming the crossing Reconciliation Bridge? It was, in a sense, born out of conflict between the Kamloops and TteS communities, and those differences were resolved through consultation and negotiation.

The bridge spanning the North Thompson River is an important transportation link, but it also connects municipal and band lands. Crosses the divide, so to speak.

We do, however, have competition for dibs on the name. The B.C. Metis Nation wants the replacement for the old Pattullo Bridge at the Coast to be renamed Reconciliation Bridge. That bridge was named after ‘Duff’ Pattullo, a former premier. The new one, though, won’t be ready to open until next year or the year after.

In Port Alberni, there appears to be a minor campaign to repaint a bridge orange and refer to it as “a bridge of Truth and Reconciliation.” Apparently, the bridge was previously orange — which is, of course, the colour associated with reconciliation — but was repainted a different colour.

Calgary already has a Reconciliation Bridge. That one, which crosses the Bow River within the city, was renamed in 2017 on the initiative of then-mayor Naheed Nenshi. I must say, the Calgarians did it right, staging a renaming ceremony the following year in which people gathered on both ends of the bridge.

There were blessings and prayers from elders on the north side; they then walked across the bridge to join Calgary citizens and continue the ceremonies with singing, drumming, dancing, and speeches on the other side.

Calgary had special motivation to rename it, since its original name was the Langevin Bridge, after Hector-Louis Langevin, a Father of Confederation who has fallen into disfavour because of his involvement in the establishment of residential schools.

But the Halston Bridge is a proper contender to assume the Reconciliation name for the reasons I’ve described. Its name isn’t contentious like the Calgary bridge was; the Halston area was named by B.C. Fruitlands manager Henry Mytton after his family home in England.

Few Kamloopsians likely even know that bit of trivia so I doubt there would be any significant objection to renaming it.

Another contender, of course, would be the historic Red Bridge. In its various iterations, it has long connected the city to the reserve. Before there was a bridge, people went back and forth across the South Thompson at that same spot in row boats.

But Kamloops has a great fondness for the Red Bridge, and I suspect changing its name would be controversial. I know from experience the sensitivity of changing bridge names.

Besides, the big, concrete Halston is a more imposing structure and one crossed by thousands of vehicles every day. So, the best choice is the Halston.

While we might scoff at symbols, they’re an inspiration to action. There would, of course, have to be proper community dialogue among all concerned but it might be a good discussion to have. Imagine — every time somebody mentions Reconciliation Bridge, or drives across it, the challenge and issue itself would come to mind in a positive way.

It would present a fine opportunity for a community celebration, too, something similar to what Calgary did. And we could all do with something to celebrate right now.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.