The Town of Truro is currently running a contest to name a park that had previously been referred to as Reparations Park during a ceremony in May. The official name is expected to be announced in February after a public contest that started recently. The Nova Scotia Women’s History Society, which initiated the park project in 2019, met with town officials to address some confusion regarding the naming process.
Society chair Anna Marie Lane Jonah expressed surprise at the public contest, stating that she was unaware of this approach and wished for earlier communication on the matter. The town’s chief administrative officer, Michael Dolter, acknowledged the miscommunication and delays in involving the society in the naming process.
The meeting between the society and town officials ended positively, despite some frustrations over the communication breakdown. The park project, which cost around $100,000, includes installations honoring African Nova Scotian women and educators. Over 40 names have been suggested by the public for the park, with the African Nova Scotia community strategy committee set to review submissions and make recommendations to the council.
Community support for the name Reparations Park has been noted, emphasizing the importance of the park project over disagreements about its name. The naming contest closes on Jan. 9, with efforts to narrow down the suggestions to a few final names for consideration.