Township won’t be slave to its name

The Township of Russell isn’t changing its name, but it is looking for a new namesake.

Council voted Monday to denounce Peter Russell, an 18th-century Upper Canada official who owned slaves and is believed to have taken part in delaying legislation to abolish slavery.

His views are “offensive” to the values of a “kind-hearted inclusive community, whose people, policies and sense of community make this an amazing place to live.”

Township residents will be invited to propose candidates with a first, middle, or last name of “Russell” who are “worthy of being the new honorary namesake for the township,” according to a press release Tuesday.

Submissions will be vetted by a volunteer committee.

“I am extremely proud to say that we are keeping our name,” Mayor Pierre Leroux said. “Now that the decision has been made, we can concentrate on working together in finding a new namesake.

“This is an opportunity to bring our community together through education, awareness and community spirit.”

Township council also approved creating a community diversity, equity and inclusion advisory committee in order “to better understand and represent residents.”

Last month, Leroux said Russell had been the subject of online scorn because of its namesake. However, there were various reasons not to change the name altogether, including the business owners and institutions who have built their brands on the name.

“And if you change the town name, what happens to all these organizations who’ve built up a

Now that the decision has been made, we can concentrate on working together in finding a new namesake.

reputation for being kind-hearted loving people and incredible businesses?” he said. “You’re saying, well, that name is by default still tied to this guy 200 years ago.”

Leroux and his teen son brainstormed a solution for which there’s a precedent.

In 1986, King County in Washington State changed its namesake from slave trader William Rufus DeVane King to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

With files from Canadian Press