Councillor seeks to name park after Inuk woman whose remains were found at construction site

CBC
·4 min read
Tommy Papatsie hopes renaming Emond Park for his sister will keep her memory alive. He says he's already spoken to other family members who also support the idea. (Maxim Allain/Radio-Canada - image credit)
Tommy Papatsie hopes renaming Emond Park for his sister will keep her memory alive. He says he's already spoken to other family members who also support the idea. (Maxim Allain/Radio-Canada - image credit)

An Ottawa city councillor is seeking to rename a park in her ward in memory of an Inuk woman whose remains were found at a nearby construction site two years ago.

Mary Papatsie was 39 years old when she disappeared from the Vanier area in 2017.

The pain of her death is still fresh for her brother, Tommy.

"Just last year we buried her back home in Pangnirtung," he told CBC on the weekend.

It was after that funeral that Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante approached the family with the idea to rename Emond Park in Mary's honour.

"To me personally, it's touching. Very touching," Tommy Papatsie said. "Hopefully … Mary will be remembered."

Mary Papatsie, 39, was last seen in Ottawa in late April, police say.
Mary Papatsie, 39, was last seen in Ottawa in late April, police say.

Mary Papatsie was 39 when she disappeared from Ottawa's Vanier neighbourhood in 2017. The Ottawa Police Service's major crime unit took over the file two and a half months after she vanished, later declaring her disappearance to be suspicious. (Ottawa police handout)

Proposal 'very well-received' by community  

Plante canvassed the neighbourhood on Saturday, seeking feedback from residents.

So far, she said, responses have been positive.

"[Mary] used to live right around here, so they knew her very well. They have very fond memories of her," Plante said.

Leaha Schultz, one such resident, said she loves the idea.

Schultz recounted her first meeting with Mary Papatsie, who lived on the streets at the time.

"She asked me if I had a cigarette, and I gave her a cigarette," she said. "She was kind of thrown off because many people would just ignore her, treat her like she wasn't there."

Schultz said she remembers her thoughtfulness, in particular how Papatsie would ask about her day and walk with her whenever she was in the area.

"The whole community was struck by the tragedy and the circumstances [of Mary's death]."  - Chris Greenshields

Chris Greenshields, president of the Vanier Community Association, didn't know Papatsie personally, but he did attend a moving memorial organized by her family following the discovery of her remains.

"Her family and her friends spoke quite a lot about her and her really special contribution to …the Inuit community," Greenshields said.

"The whole community was struck by the tragedy and the circumstances [of Mary's death]."

Plante's proposal has been "very well-received" by Vanier residents, he added.

"We look forward to the city moving forward on this," Greenshields said.

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante says she hopes to rename Emond Park after Mary Papatsie, adding the street name would remain the same under her proposal.
Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante says she hopes to rename Emond Park after Mary Papatsie, adding the street name would remain the same under her proposal.

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante says she hopes to rename Emond Park after Mary Papatsie, adding the street name would remain the same under her proposal. (Anchal Sharma/CBC )

Commemorative naming policy under review

But Plante will need more than the residents' approval to move her plan forward.

As it currently stands, the city's commemorative naming policy has specific criteria that must be met for an application to be considered.

To rename a park after someone, that person must have "demonstrated excellence, courage, or exceptional service" to the city, province or country, made a significant financial contribution to a park or facility that "greatly benefits" the community, or be historically significant.

Park names cannot be used for memorials, the current rules state.

But Plante notes that policy is being reviewed — and she hopes that what comes out of the review will better reflect the city's residents.

"I think it's important for the Inuit population to see their names reflected in the signage of the city," she said, explaining that Vanier has a significant Inuit population.

Emond Park sits at the corner of Emond Street and Deschamps Avenue, close to where Mary Papatsie lived.
Emond Park sits at the corner of Emond Street and Deschamps Avenue, close to where Mary Papatsie lived.

Emond Park sits at the corner of Emond Street and Deschamps Avenue, close to where Mary Papatsie lived. (Anchal Sharma/CBC)

"If you look at names like Ray Friel or Walter Baker [who've been commemorated with other facilities], they did wonderful things for our city. But it's a new day and we want to make sure that our city can also represent people who live here."

"Naming the park after Papatsie, Plante added, is a way the city can take steps toward reconciliation in the wake of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

"Mary tragically died under circumstances that would put her in the framework [of that inquiry]," Plante said. "We think that is something worthy of commemoration in my office."

Schultz, who is First Nations, agrees.

"I think that the [Inuit] community has had a lot of losses, just like the First Nations community," she said. "And I believe that some recognition is due."

Residents have until May 31 to submit feedback to Plante's office.