BANFF – The Town of Banff is looking at a new name for the Banff recreation grounds as a whole, while also considering naming the new multi-purpose pavilion to honour Indigenous peoples.
Using a list of municipal properties eligible for assigning Indigenous names previously endorsed by council, administration began exploring names that honour Indigenous Peoples, beginning with the recently completed pavilion at the recreation grounds.
Officials say following a lengthy consultation process with Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation, a name was provided to the Town of Banff.
“The pavilion name was looked at with the Stoney, and the Blackfoot are currently looking at a different site,” said Town Manager Kelly Gibson during council’s Nov. 12 meeting.
“We will have a number of options come back to council before the end of this year.”
Following a roughly 35-minute closed door discussion in October, council directed administration to return with the shortlist of potential names for the Banff recreation grounds and the pavilion.
The meeting was held in-camera under the section of the Freedom of Information and Protection and Privacy Act pertaining to advice from officials. In addition, the municipality’s naming and sponsorship policy also requires potential names be deliberated in-camera.
In April 2022, the governance and finance committee endorsed a list of municipal properties eligible for assigning Indigenous names, which included the Banff recreation grounds and pavilion. Council has the final approval for naming municipal properties.
The naming and sponsorship policy recommends the Town consider Indigenous names to recognize the heritage importance to Banff given the valley has long been a place of shared use by Indigenous Peoples from multiple language groups. These groups include Ktunaxa (Kootenay), Secwépemc (Shuswap), Athapaskan (Dene), Algonquian (Nehiyaw, a.k.a. Cree; Niitsitapi, a.k.a. Blackfoot), Assiniboian (Nakoda), and Michif (Métis).
Randall McKay, manager of strategic initiatives and special projects for the Town of Banff, said the policy provides a structure for assigning names to municipal properties and assets to reinforce the “unique character of our mountain community and the reputation of the corporation.”
“The policy also encourages that the names to be honoured reflect the heritage, cultural, ethnic, or social diversity of the community, including First Peoples, traders, explorers, and early pioneers who have contributed significantly to Banff,” he said.
Along with giving the pavilion an official name, administration is also recommending council consider renaming the recreation grounds to a more “suitable, place-specific name.”
McKay said proper naming contributes to a more inclusive and versatile understanding of the spaces where community interactions often take place, noting the term recreation grounds can be considered outdated for several reasons.
First, he said it tends to imply a very specific type of space primarily dedicated to outdoor sports and activities, which can limit the understanding of what this area actually offers today.
“Modern parks and community spaces often serve a wider range of purposes, such as community events, cultural activities, nature walks, picnic areas, and children's play zones,” McKay said.
“Additionally, the term may lack the inclusivity that contemporary facilities seek to embody. Spaces designated as recreation grounds might not fully encompass the variety of recreational and social activities available to diverse community members, including passive recreational areas and facilities that promote wellness and environmental engagement.”
