New names have been chosen for four parks in Okotoks.
Two parks with existing names have been re-named and two which were previously unnamed have been given monikers.
The namesakes of two parks were long-time Okotoks residents who served their communities in a variety of capacities.
Riverside Community Park, located at 1400 North Railway St, will now be known as Bill Robertson Park, in recognition of the late mayor, who passed away from cancer last July.
Before being elected mayor in 2010, Robertson served five terms as councillor. Okotoks went from a town of 10,000 residents to nearly 30,000 under his tenure.
Robertson was actively involved in sports and recreation in Okotoks. During his service, the Dawgs stadium was opened, Pason Arenas was expanded and partnerships with Foothills County that led to the shared Regional Fieldhouse and Champion Park were established.
The park located at the 245 Mountainview Drive is set to be called Allen (Al) King Park. King, who passed away in 2021, was a former Okotoks councillor and pharmacist.
Often referred to as 'Mr. Okotoks,' King was actively involved in the community.
He spearheaded the organization of the town's first annual parade, the Okotoks Sports Day Parade and sat on a post-secondary education board and the Sheep River Health Trust board.
King also received recognition from the Okotoks Rotary Club in 2006 and the Hometown Heroes award in 2011.
Following extensive consultation with Indigenous partners, two green spaces will be given Indigenous names.
The park located on the Riverfront lands at 370068 40 St, will be named Iitopatopa Park, meaning "a place where we return often."
Piikani Elder Shirlee Crow Shoe, Misamiinisikim (Ancient Buffalo Stone) recommended the name after visiting the land with the Blackfoot assessment team. It was determined that the area would have been a favoured warm-season habitation site. The lands would likely have been well used over many years due to easy water access, shelter and numerous plants to be used for food medicine and ceremony.
Dewdney Park at 53 North Railway Street has been re-named to Pisttoo Park. The name was first suggested by Scotty Many Guns-Onistaomahka (Running Calf), a consultation officer and elder with the Siksika Nation. He is also a fluent Blackfoot speaker and accomplished Blackfoot writer.
The name, Pisttoo, which is Blackfoot for nighthawk, was suggested for the bird's role in the story of Napi and the Big Rock (Okohtok), which is the central story of creation for the Blackfoot.
In June 2021, the previous name was identified as problematic due to Edgar Dewdney's connection to the creation of residential schools. A motion was made to remove the name and introduce a new one following consultation with the Indigenous community.
Final name suggestions were brought forward to the Governance and Priorities Committee during a meeting on March 21 before reaching the final stage of approval at the regular March 28 meeting.
"I'm really quite excited to see us start to move to having more Indigenous names in our community," said Mayor Tanya Thorn. "I think it goes well with our name of Okotoks and the history of the Big Rock. I also think it also showcases our desire to build relationships with our Indigenous neighbours and partners and honour that piece of history."
For more information about the Indigenous history associated with the new park names, click here.
