Edmonton councillor applies to name street ‘Forever Canadian Avenue’

Edmonton city councillor Michael Janz has submitted an application to rename a street near the Alberta Legislature building to Forever Canadian Avenue.

An Edmonton councillor will be applying to rename a section of 99 Avenue “Forever Canadian Avenue” to honour the petition of the same name.

Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz announced Sunday morning that he will be submitting the application

to the Edmonton Naming Committee.

“I’m a proud Canadian, and I’m a proud Albertan, and a proud Edmontonian, and I don’t think that we should have to choose,” said Janz.

“This avenue will celebrate the largest non-partisan citizen movement in Alberta’s history,” said a statement from Janz’s office. “The Forever Canadian petition collected signatures from Albertans who want Alberta to proudly remain a Canadian province.

Thomas Lukaszuk and his team collected more than 400,000 signatures for his petition that would ask Albertans if the province should remain in Canada in a referendum, prompted by a rise in separatist sentiments.

“I can’t think of a democratic movement in recent memory that’s accomplished such a feat,” said Janz.

The former deputy premier thanked Janz for honouring his petition.

“It’s not often that I’m speechless, but you did it,” said Lukaszuk. “This is for all the volunteers that were in the rain and in parks and everywhere last summer collecting these signatures.

“I know that they will not only mobilize, but they will double down if a referendum is to happen.”

If approved by the committee, 99 Avenue between 107 Street and 109 Street will be called “Forever Canadian Avenue.”

Costs to rename the section are borne by the applicant, Janz, who will be accepting donations from supporters and paying out-of-pocket for.