Push grows to rename métro after Peterson
A petition calling for Montreal’s Lionel- Groulx métro station to be renamed after legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson had collected more than 13,000 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon.
The petition was started by Montrealer Naveed Hussain, who wrote on change.org that renaming Lionel-groulx métro station after Oscar Peterson “allows Montreal to celebrate the legacy of a man who has proudly represented our city on the international stage and allows our city to celebrate the beautiful cultural diversity and representation that Black Montrealers bring to our city.”
Tiffany Callender, executive director of the Côte-des-neiges Black Community Association, said she was happy to sign the petition and tweet about it.
“I’m a member of the English-speaking Black community and for me Oscar Peterson is a hero,” Callender said. “And he is somebody who emerged from a neighbourhood that is very significant and important to Canadian history, but specifically to Canadian Black history.”
Peterson, an eight-time Grammy Award winner, was born in Little Burgundy and learned to play piano as a child before becoming an international jazz legend, virtuoso and composer.
There is a local park named after Peterson (1925-2007) and a tribute mural near St-jacques and Des Seigneurs Sts., but Callender says he has still not been properly recognized by his hometown.
“Concordia has the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, but having something as significant and as fixed at the métro station, which is at the heart of Little Burgundy — some people don’t even know Little Burgundy, but they know LionelGroulx métro — I think would just be very indicative of what that neighbourhood represents and what it produced.
“It’s an untold story and that’s why I signed the petition. The more recognition we attribute to the people of that community, the better.”
With increased awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement after the May 25 killing of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, and statues of controversial historical figures being taken down by protesters around the globe, Callender said it’s “great timing” to rename Lionel-groulx station.
“Change is not just about taking things away that are hurtful and offensive to people. Change is about making space for things that make people feel more included and recognizes them so they can see themselves.
“So we share the world with Oscar Peterson as a brilliant pianist. But he’s ours. He’s our Oscar Peterson from a neighbourhood that we know and, unfortunately, a lot of people don’t know.”
A spokesperson for the STM said organizers of the petition “have the right to submit it to the STM board so that the request is officially registered. However, the global orientation of the STM is to keep the actual stations’ names, which are part of Montreal’s toponymic legacy and integrated in our clients habits.”
The STM instituted a moratorium on station name changes 14 years ago.
Although Lionel Groulx, a Catholic priest and Quebec nationalist who lived from 1878 to 1967, has been criticized for espousing anti-semitic views, the STM said changing the name of the station has other implications.
“The name of Lionel- Groulx was chosen by the City of Montreal and is a direct reference to the avenue bearing the same name,” the spokesperson said. “Thus, changing the station name would also require to rename the avenue.”
The STM also noted that only five station names have been changed since the opening of the métro in 1966.
Callender was also surprised with Monday’s announcement by Mayor Valérie Plante that the new REM station in nearby Griffintown will carry the name Griffintown-bernard Landry.
“I understand the Irish community has been screaming at the top of their lungs,” Callender said. “How does this happen?”
“I didn’t understand how you lose an election and a referendum then get a station named after you. It’s weird. It’s more of an idea of honouring more of the same, as opposed to being cognizant that there are other parallel realities and stories that should be told as well because they are important.”
“We all understand the Révolution Tranquille, but I think now we’re in a révolution de d’inclusion,” Callender said.
“If that a part of their history they would like valued, then they should return the favour and value others.”
Change is about making space for things that make people feel more included.