Friends of Laura Secord ask for recognition of history in Glendale area

After working on a plan for several years, the Friends of Laura Secord are hoping they are a step closer to recognition of local history and heritage in the Glendale area.

Caroline McCormick, a direct descendant of the Canadian hero and president of the organization promoting her, was at the Town’s general committee of the whole meeting to ask for support, and to offer specific suggestions for recognizing Secord as the development of the Glendale area progresses.

With her was David Brown, vice-president of the Friends of Laura Secord, whose presentation included a request for support from council.

He asked first that the district itself be renamed, saying Glendale has no relevance in history — other than as an extension of a St. Catharines street.

He suggested that the names of streets, subdistricts, neighbourhoods, parks, public monuments, infrastructure, and other development features recognize and celebrate the landscapes, history, heritage, and also the significant people, of the area. The Main Street in particular, which will connect Niagara-on-the-Green to the Outlet Collection across the street, “should pay specific homage to significant, but underrepresented female figures significant to the history of Niagara – notably First Nations women, Black women, and pioneering female settlers, including, of course, Laura Secord.” 

He was also looking at town staff to engage the NOTL community in the process of identifying people and events that could be commemorated in the Glendale district.

Lord Mayor Betty Disero made a motion that the requests from the Friends of Laura Secord be adopted in principle, and asked for a staff report.

McCormick said she’s pleased with the result of the requests to council, and expects to make the same presentation to regional council, since it is the Region that is currently working on a plan for the future development of the Glendale area.

“We started working on this several years ago, and we were at council to offer suggestions. There is an opportunity to do  something wonderful with this district by recognizing local history,” said McCormick.