"Meaford" supporters have their say about name change
By Chris Fell Express Staff

It was the pro-Meaford segment of town turn to make its case before Georgian Highlands council at Monday night's regular meeting.

At council's previous meeting its decision to change Georgian Highlands to The Municipality of Meaford came under fire from former Sydenham councillor Dave Stewart and the large public gallery in attendance.

At this meeting council was praised by Library Board chair and long time Meaford/St. Vincent resident Francis Richardson about the name change to Meaford and he defended the choice.

"The name Meaford, its community and its people have been much maligned recently. We're taught as children our identity is very important, it's who we are," said Richardson in his presentation to council. "Meaford, St. Vincent and Sydenham have had positive identities over a long period of time. It's been decreed that we can't keep all of them, but we can keep one of them," he said.

Richardson cited three reasons for the name change being appropriate: history, identity and safety. He said the safety aspect was no laughing matter and that both history and identity are on the side of Meaford.

"Meaford is a name that doesn't exist anywhere. It truly is unique. Isn't something that satisfies half of the community better than something that satisfies nobody?" Richardson asked.

At the previous two council meetings the name change issue dominated the meeting and provoked plenty of debate around the council table. But on this occasion council was silent following Richardson's presentation and the by-law to change the name will be introduced at council's meeting on March 5.

In addition to Richardson's presentation council also found support for the name change to the Municipality of Meaford from another unexpected source: MPP Bill Murdoch. Included in council's correspondence for the meeting was a letter from the MPP and resident of the Bognor area applauding council on the decision to change the name of the municipality.

Council's correspondence list was filled with 15 letters, almost half of the total correspondence, regarding the name change. Eight of the letters were pro-Meaford and seven were opposed or concerned about the change. Early in the meeting councillor Diane Hurlburt requested Clerk/Treasurer Graham Shaw read one letter from those in favour of the change and one letter from those opposed.