Dear Editor,
Re: “Mom wants girl honoured,” News Oct. 28.
What’s in a name? The City of Richmond should be ashamed of itself regarding its apparent policy dealing with the naming of civic facilities.
The city was only too proud to recently name the Lang Centre/Park in honour of the Lang family.
This is clearly a civic facility. What status does the Lang family have in Richmond to warrant such prestigious recognition? Was this naming in response to a large financial contribution to the facility? This is in spite of the fact that the News reported in an article regarding naming a park “Gemma’s Place” that, according to city spokesperson Ted Townsend, the official city naming policy discourages the naming of civic facilities for living persons, with very few exceptions for extraordinary circumstances. It appears that the Lang name meets the criteria. How so? It seems the city is influenced by large financial donations.
A given or family name is sacred to those who bear it. The use of living names for civic facilities should relate to the cause they represent and the legacy that they leave for future generations.
Names should not simply be based on wealth, power and political influence.
Alan Johnson
Richmond
