Inuvik’s town council has approved the renaming of Stringer Road and a portion of Bompas Street to Ptarmigan Way.
The town’s initial proposal involved a different configuration that would have only renamed Bompas Street between Centennial Street and Stringer Road. The approved version also renames Stringer Road.
Earlier, the town had rejected a motion that would have renamed Carmichael Drive East and Carmichael Drive West.
Inuvik has two Bompas Streets – the renaming was designed to eliminate confusion. The remaining Bompas Street is located near the Capital Suites and Midnight Sun Complex.
During an October 14 council meeting, councillor Alana Mero said renaming streets with ties to residential schools is also “an act of reconciliation.”
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Stringer Hall was a residential school that operated in Inuvik from 1959 to 1975. Where the name Bompas appears in the NWT, it is a reference to 19th-century northern bishop William Bompas or a relative. According to the Yukon government, Bompas and a bishop named Isaac Stringer co-founded the institution that became the territory’s first residential school.
“I think there’s a lot of hard feelings around those kinds of names continuing to be perpetrated,” said deputy mayor Steve Baryluk.
Responding to comments about why the name Ptarmigan Way was chosen, Mero said the area used to be called Ptarmigan Hill and the new name is “positive.”
Cynthia Pihlaja, Inuvik’s senior administrative officer, said the town received six written submissions in favour of the name change and three that opposed it.
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While the letters were not published, councillor Jennifer Parrott said feedback included that the name change was overwhelming, it comes with an administrative burden, and things like road maintenance should be prioritized over street names.
“I do recognize there is a burden on residents on that street, that is not ignored,” said Baryluk, “but there’s a much bigger issue at play behind some of these things – and I think it’s time we as a town council took action to change some of these legacy names.”
Pihlaja said the town is notifying emergency services, the post office, Inuvik Gas, NTPC and taxi companies of the name change, and emergency responders are aware of the previous names for roads.
Residents have to notify their credit card and insurance companies, but they don’t have to change their driver’s licences or passports until they expire, Pihlaja added.
A representative from the Inuvik district education authority was the only person from the public to speak about the renaming proposal during a public hearing held on October 14.
The representative spoke against it, saying it could disrupt the routine of children and families.
Pihlaja said the town is open to working with the education authority to help people learn the new name.
