Sandy Hill Park renamed after Inuk artist Annie Pootoogook

Sandy Hill Park is being renamed in honour of a late local Inuk artist, known for her pen and coloured pencil drawings.

A renaming ceremony took place at 250 Somerset St. E. on Sunday, November 7, changing the name of Sandy Hill Park to Annie Pootoogook Park, said City Councillor Mathieu Fleury in a post on his Facebook page.

Also in attendance at the re-naming ceremony was Governor General Mary Simon, who spoke about International Inuit Day. 

“I am a proud Inuk, born in Nunavik, Quebec, in Canada’s Arctic,” Simon said in a statement. “As Canada moves forward on reconciliation, we must all make every effort to acknowledge and deal with the more sombre chapters of our collective history—the truth of our history. Reconciliation is a way of life, with no end date. I am not here to tell you that it will be easy. I am here to say that is necessary.”

Pootoogook was born into a family of artists in Cape Dorset, Nunavut.

Her family worked in multiple mediums and styles, which inspired Annie’s interest in art at an early age.

Using her ink and crayons drawings, Pootoogook would push the boundaries of what Canada and the world expected from Inuit art.

Her art reflected her experience as a female artist living and working in contemporary Canada.

She was a world-renown artist who called Ottawa home, where most of her famous works of art were created.

It is where her first solo exhibits took place and where most of her important works for art are permanently displayed.

Pootoogook passed away on September 19, 2016, in Ottawa at the age of 46.

Pootoogook’s death was deemed suspicious when her body was found in the Rideau River in September 2016. Police said at the time that they did not suspect foul play, but that the major crimes unit had taken over the investigation.