A bilingual debate has ignited over the renaming of the Orleans Recreation Complex.
The building was renamed the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex-Orleans to honour Bob MacQuarrie, a prominent leader of Gloucester who served a term in the Ontario legislature.
The renaming was rushed through by Ottawa City Council so MacQuarrie would be aware of the honour before he died.
But east-end residents attending a council committee meeting Thursday argued the new name diminishes the heritage of Orleans' Francophone community.
"Isn't it an insult that the community was not consulted? Will the councillors have the courage to correct their mistake?" asked Nicole Fortier, who says council should honour MacQuarrie in a different way.
But not everyone feels the same way.
MacQuarrie's family says they can't believe residents are turning the renaming of a building into a controversy.
"Now that after he's passed, he's in the spotlight and it's over this?" said Amy Derickx, MacQuarrie's granddaughter. "He's rolling in his grave."
Other Orleans residents also agree.
"Bob MacQuarrie did a lot of good things around here. I think it's nice to have something named after him," one resident told CTV News.
"I don't know a lot about him but if he deserves to have it named after him, if he was significant to the community, then why not?" said another.
In the end, the committee voted 6-2 to keep MacQuarrie's name on the recreation complex.
With a report from CTV's Norman Fetterley
