City of Gatineau changing street name to honour Indigenous communities

The City of Gatineau will be changing one of its street names to honour Indigenous communities. 

On National Truth and Reconciliation Day (Sept. 30), City of Gatineau officials announced in a release they will be changing the street name, Amherst Street in Hull, in 2023, which will consist of a four-step process.

“It is with honour and nobility that we begin this toponymic process that will take place in collaboration with the community of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and the residents of the area,” said Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle.  “The intention is to conduct a co-developed process that facilitates reflection and decision-making.”

City officials stated that they will also set up a co-creation process with the community of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, (an Algonquin First Nation Community), by creating a joint working committee to change the name. 

This committee will bring together members of the community and the Toponymy Committee including elected municipal officials and residents living on Amherst Street.

“Today, the City of Gatineau and our community, the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, are starting the process of renaming Amherst Street,” said Frankie Cote, band council Member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation. “The new name will be proposed by our Elders and will be in Anishinabeg. We should have had an Anishinabeg name and presence in the city, which is the heart of our territory, a long time ago.”

In September of this year, the municipal mandated the Toponymy Committee to lead the modification process for Amherst Street.