Owen Sound City Hall. (Photo by Claire McCormack. July 2024)
Owen Sound is recognizing two residents for their lifetime public service achievements by naming two spaces inside city hall after them.
Council passed a motion Monday from Mayor Ian Boddy to have two atrium meeting rooms named for Arlene Wright and Ovid Jackson.
Wright spent 16 years on Owen Sound council from 2003 to 2018, including 12 years as the city’s deputy mayor. She served as Grey County’s warden for two terms, 2010 and 2011, and at the time became the second female in the county’s history in the role.
“And the first warden from Owen Sound in more than 100 years,” Boddy says.
Wright was also a trustee and chair of the former Grey County Board of Education, and worked in a special role for the province as an Ontario Education Improvement Commissioner to help with amalgamations of small school boards.
“Other than Mary Miller Park and Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre, I cannot think of any other women honoured by the naming of anything in this city,” Boddy says. “I think we’ve got some catching up to do.”
Jackson, 87, immigrated to Canada with his wife, Verona, and became a teacher in Owen Sound. He was then elected to city council, and subsequently served as mayor from 1982 to 1993.
“He was the second Black mayor elected in the history of Canada,” Boddy says. “Under Ovid’s leadership, the city negotiated with Sydenham Township to expand the city’s boundaries to be able to accommodate building a regional hospital.”
“And he secured funds for the building of a regional airport,” Boddy continues. “He championed Owen Sound as a regional hub.”
Jackson then entered federal politics for the Liberal Party, and was elected as the Member of Parliament in the former riding of Bruce-Grey from 1993 to 2004.
“He is one of only two city residents elected to represent the riding in the past 75 years,” Boddy says.
Jackson was named to the Order of Ontario in 2010.
“We have a history of naming parks, parkways, arenas or halls after citizens who have stepped forward for public duty for the betterment of the community,” Owen Sound’s mayor says. “We reserve those honours for the few who have the most.”
“So much of Ovid’s and Arlene’s contributions were made here at city hall,” Boddy continues. “It is here more than anywhere they will be remembered.”
Coun. Marion Koepke adds: “I like the idea of having a summary of the individual on the walls of the atriums, so people visiting city hall can certainly recognize all of the accomplishments of these two individuals.”
There were two councillors — Jon Farmer and Melanie Middlebro’ — who voted against the motion — not out of opposition to those proposed for recognition, but over concerns about the sustainability of such actions by the city.
“I absolutely agree these two people have dedicated so much time and energy to civic engagement. I don’t, however, think the right way to tell of people like that is to name a room in city hall,” Farmer says. “I think the list of halls, and bridges, and parkways that we have shows that has been a trend, but also shows it’s limited.”
“I think we’re going to run out of things to name,” Farmer continues. “If we’re going to honour these folks, it should be with something that tells their story … it’s an awkward thing to say, because I think there are so many reasons to admire and appreciate these people and their work.”
Coun. Middlebro’ agreed with Farmer: “I think we will run out of places to name after people…I want to say we have other ways we could be doing this. We have a Sports Hall of Fame we recognize for people’s achievements in sport. Why can’t we have a Hall of Fame for people who have contributed to wonderful things that have been done in Owen Sound?”