For Immediate Release
Toronto, November 20, 1996... The League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada has officially requested that the Executive Committee of the Montreal Urban Community (M.U.C.) recommend a name change to the Lionel Groulx metro station in Montreal.
Please find attached the letter of request that was sent last Friday, Nov. 14th which is self- explanatory.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Le 14 novembre 1996
Président du Comité Executif
La Communauté Urbaine de Montréal
Les Cours Mont-Royal
1550 Metcalfe, Suite #1400
Montreal, Quebec H3A 3P1
Dear Mme Président,
Our organization has, in the past week, received numerous demands that the name of Abbé Lionel Groulx be removed from the metro station designated in his honour. The recent "Roux affair" has reminded us of a dubious chapter in Quebec history and many, regardless of political orientation, feel it is time to come to terms with it.
This demand is nothing new, since B'nai Brith only last March publicly called for such a name change. Other minority groups have also expressed their resentment that the Abbé's name should be attached to a leading public facility in their midst. It is now ever more clear, that whatever Groulx's other accomplishments, he led and inspired a variety of nationalism that was ethno-centric, anti-semitic and xenophobic. That brand of nationalism has little in common with civic or territorial nationalism proclaimed by today's younger adherents to Quebec nationalism and they will hopefully understand the pain and anger of our community.
The M.U.C. has previously taken cognizance of the potency of symbolism, especially in the case of her minority communities, and we must again call for such sensitivity. Thus, we would like to officially request that the M.U.C. Executive Committee recommend a name change for the Lionel Groulx metro station. It might be appropriate to consider the name of the late Paul Emile-Cardinal Leger, another cleric but one whose life work was committed to the underprivileged of all races and religions.
We would appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Me. Allan Adel, Quebec Chairman
Prof. Stephen Scheinberg, National Vice-President
c.c. Members of the M.U.C. Executive Committee
-30-
Institute for International Affairs
| Commission
for Jewish Culture
| Sports Corporation
| League
for Human Rights
| Publications
Current Press Releases
| Government Relations Office
| Centre for Community Action
| B'nai
Brith Foundation
The Jewish Tribune
| Canadian Jewish Law Students Association
| B'nai Brith Canada's Home Page