https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/01/09/kingston-pub-changes-name-to-remove-reference-to-sir-john-a-macdonald.htmlOwner has just changed the name of the historic pub, a heritage site, due to protestors:
A downtown Kingston pub has changed its name to remove reference to Canada’s first prime minister over the role Sir John A. Macdonald played in residential schools.
Sir John’s Public House has been renamed the Public House, owner Paul Fortier said.
“We decided to make the change because we are a hospitality venue,” Fortier told the Star. “And many customers indicated that because of the name, that they were unable to patronize the pub, that they felt unsafe.”
Fortier said patrons were concerned about the association between Macdonald and 19th-century policies that were destructive to Indigenous Canadians, like residential schools.
“There was one individual who was a regular here at the pub, and he told me of his personal experience in residential schools and how horrible a memory it was for him,” Fortier said. “And that the association with John A. Macdonald meant that he could no longer come here.”
From 1849 to 1860, the building was home to Macdonald’s law office. The 150-seat, two-storey pub was named in recognition of the lawyer who would later guide Canada toward Confederation.
“We will continue to represent Sir John A. Macdonald and talk about his use of the structure and to commemorate him,” Fortier said. “But we’ve decided to make a slight change to the name ... to make the name more inclusive, to be more welcoming, to all Canadians.”
Fortier said only the pub’s name and sign will be changed, with the exterior sign due to come down Tuesday.
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The exterior plaque erected by Parks Canada to commemorate Macdonald’s use of the building will remain, as will interior features like an original bust of Macdonald from the 1880s.
Sir John A wasn't perfect like any politician, far from it. But he is our history, he was the leader in uniting Canada's separate provinces into one country immediately after the US Civil War in order to prevent America's remaining huge standing army from invading our provinces one by one (USA had annexed Texas from Mexico & fought a war over it with Mexico only 20 years earlier).
Aboriginals have a right to be mad at an architect of a well-intentioned but ultimately cruel residential school system. They should also be thankful to him because they'd be living under the rule of President Trump if not for him. He is a mixed historical figure, but a part of our history and not to be forgotten, good and bad. The pub owner is free to do as he wishes to the name of his pub, I just think it's ridiculous. I've visited the pub before and won't be back.