I read with interest in a recent paper about the new naming or renaming policy that the city has adopted for honouring various St. Albert citizens.
Through this policy, trails, roads, parks, buildings and ponds/lakes will be named or renamed after various citizens who have contributed to enhance our city. I was shocked and dismayed to learn that a waste water pond (actually a sewerage pond) next to where the canoe club stores its equipment, now referred to as Riel Pond will be renamed after prominent environmentalist Elke Blodgett.
What a disgraceful, mean-spirited and foul thing to do. Although Blodgett is not well liked by many at city hall because she has pointed out to the city a number of environmental problems in order to improve the City of St. Albert and its surroundings, this is no way to treat her.
She is a former Emerald Award winner and well-known and respected area environmentalist and if she is to have a naming honour then surely council can find something better to name after her than a garbage pond. What an insult and shame on you.
I would suggest a more appropriate honour would be to name either the Red Willow Trail from the Big Lake Environmental Support Society (BLESS) shelter to the BLESS platform or the wetland lakes/ponds on the west side between Ray Gibbons Drive and the Sturgeon River in Blodgett’s honour
Liz Samson, St. Albert
