Lots of discussion among residents in the Grand Bay-Westfield area about the future of the community’s name.
The town and part of the Westfield West local service district (LSD) will amalgamate later this year to form a new community.
Residents will soon be asked for their input on what the amalgamated community’s new name should be — or whether it should remain the same. For now, they will be known simply as Entity 51.
Local historian Jon Taylor made the case for a name change during a presentation to council on Monday night.
“Grand Bay-Westfield is an awkward name. It’s often very confusing to both residents and visitors, and as I’m reminded every time I fill out a government form, it is very, very long,” Taylor said in his presentation.
Taylor said this is an opportunity to develop a more inclusive, convenient and recognizable name for the community.
Grand Bay-Westfield, he said, is a reminder of amalgamations past, referring to the merger of Grand Bay and Westfield in the late 1990s.
“If left unchanged, it will also become a constant reminder of an unwanted amalgamation to many of our new residents across the Nerepis River,” said Taylor.
Grand Bay-Westfield and part of the Westfield West LSD are being forced to amalgamate under the province’s local governance reform plan announced in November.
As part of the reforms, New Brunswick is slashing the number of local government entities in the province from 340 to 90.
Taylor said any initiative to rename the town should also be done in close collaboration with representatives of the Wolastoqiyik.
“I know that there are a lot of great names that have a history in this community that just aren’t as well known as Grand Bay-Westfield, but they’re nonetheless unique, melodious and appropriate. And who knows what other new names will be submitted by residents in the coming contest,” he said.
Over the coming weeks, residents will submit potential names for the new amalgamated community, and the committee will choose the top three to five.
Residents will vote on those top choices — which will include Grand Bay-Westfield, — through a ranked ballot process.
A nine-person naming committee has been formed to help with the process. It consists of two members of town council, the two LSD transition committee reps, three residents from Grand Bay-Westfield, and two residents from the impacted portion of the Westfield West LSD.
- Erika Kelly, Grand Bay-Westfield
- Jon Taylor, Grand Bay-Westfield
- Rob Wilson, Grand Bay-Westfield
- Keri Burpee, LSD of Westfield West
- Robert Donner, LSD of Westfield West
- Mayor Brittany Merrifield, Grand Bay-Westfield (Transition Committee)
- Deputy Mayor Erin M. Toole, Grand Bay-Westfield (Transition Committee)
- Louis Gigou, LSD of Westfield West (Transition Committee)
- Shelly Totton, LSD of Westfield West (Transition Committee)
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