Mayor Jonathan Coté accused of throwing a farewell “grenade” in the form of a movement that could be controversial
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New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Coté’s motion to change the city’s name, including phasing out the “Royal City” moniker, passed council Monday night.
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Coté, who was a three-term councilor and two-term mayor, said that when he got involved in municipal politics, the city council was considering dropping the “Ciudad Real” moniker, but backed off over community concerns.
“I think a lot has changed in the last 15 years, particularly in terms of the work that we need to do as an inclusive community and continue our journey of reconciliation and this is a really important step,” said Coté, who is not seeking re-election.
“We have a lot of stories that need to be celebrated and focused, and we have a lot of stories that existed before we were a city that need to be reflected on. Although the brand is symbolic, it makes an important statement.”
Coté said it was inappropriate to send letters to First Nations on New Westminster stationary paper with a “colonial crown on top.”
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“The time has come for us to phase it out,” he said.
The city’s logo is centered around a golden crown and is related to Queen Victoria’s decision in the 1860s to name the city after the London enclave of Westminster. New Westminster was founded as the capital of The Colony of British Columbia in 1858 on the unceded territory of the Qayqayt First Nation.
Coté also asked city staff to develop a plan to engage the community in developing a new brand identity “that is inclusive and allows for collective pride in the city.”
Several New Westminster businesses use the royal moniker: including the Royal City Center shopping mall, Royal City Taxi, Royal City Jewelers Royal City Manor, and the New Westminster Royals hockey team. Count Nadine Nakagawa is a member of the Royal City Curling Club.
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The only vote against came from the Count. Chuck Puchmayr, who said Coté had left a “good parting grenade” with what he believes will be a controversial decision.
Coté disagreed, saying the name change had been on her mind for several years.
“I don’t think he left a grenade,” he said.
Council hopeful Daniel Fontaine, who is running in the October election with the New Westminster Coalition Society of Progressive Electors, said there should have been a public consultation before the vote took place.
“Our only indoor pool has been closed for two years, our aquatic center project is $8 million over budget, property taxes are skyrocketing and this is what the council wants to focus on. Is it time to undertake this in the last days of a regime?” Fontaine wrote in a letter to Postmedia News.
