City proposes naming park after prolific fundraiser and athlete Sindy Hooper

Sindy Hooper is pictured in this 2023 image, training for Ottawa Race Weekend. (Leah Larocque/CTV News Ottawa)

The City of Ottawa is asking for public input on a proposal to name park in Kanata after a local woman who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research and inspired people to get active.

Sindy Hooper died in 2024, more than 10 years after first being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A competitive triathlete and marathoner in life, Hooper completed the Boston Marathon three times and finished Ironman triathlons three times.

But she was also known for inspiring others, raising more than $550,000 for cancer research.

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The City of Ottawa is seeking input on renaming the current Kimmins Court Park, near Beaver Pond, to Sindy Hooper Park.

Jon Hooper told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal on Thursday that he’s heard from many people in the community who wanted to see something permanent to commemorate Sindy’s legacy.

“We use Ottawa Race Weekend and Sindy’s Run, which will be here in November every year, we use that, but as a fundraiser and also a way to remember her, but everyone wanted to do something that was more permanent,” he said. “And everyone was saying it’s got to have something to do with being outside.”

Jon says Sindy loved to run and bike in the Beaver Pond area and they wanted to do something in that favourite spot. He looked into the city’s commemorative naming program, and first considered naming a trail after her, before someone at the City of Ottawa suggested renaming the Kimmins Court Park.

“It’s got a nice little stream and a bridge in it, and she loved running through it and taking her dog over there and so they said, ‘Well, it’s just named after the street around the corner, but it could be renamed.’ So, we put an application in to have it be renamed to the Sindy Hooper Park. It passed at the city level and it’s now up for public input,” he said.

People interested in commenting on the proposal can fill out a short survey on Engage Ottawa.

Jon says he’s heard a lot of words of encouragement and support about the idea.

“The first part was getting the application in, which you needed support from the local community association president and the councillor, and they were all over that in two seconds. Mayor Sutcliffe threw in a letter of support as well as a bunch of people from the Ottawa Hospital… it went through committee and we got an email a couple of weeks ago saying it’s through, but now it’s a matter of getting the public input,” he said. “I put it on Sindy’s Facebook…and I think I’ve had 50 people message me to say, ‘Yep, done.’”

He says Sindy’s legacy extends beyond her fundraising.

“That was a huge thing, her raising money, but I get so many comments from everybody, mostly just about her and the way she approached life and was so encouraging to other people and got them motivated and following her well-known mantra about making every moment count,” he said. “Everyone says yes, the money is fantastic for cancer research and the awareness is fantastic, but it’s more just about all the other things she brought.”

The renaming of Kimmins Court Park is one of five proposed commemorative naming projects the City of Ottawa is seeking input on. Other name changes include changing Confederation Park in Alta Vista, at 2350 Russell Road, to Andrea Thompson Park, renaming the Van Lang Field House on Van Lang Private in Westboro to the Paul Dewar Field House, naming the arena at the Navan Memorial Centre after Steve Barban, and naming the boardroom in the Fred Barrett Arena the Steve Gilroy Boardroom.

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Comments can be submitted on each of these naming proposals until Oct. 15.

City of Ottawa details on commemorative naming proposals

Andrea Thompson Park (Ward 18 – Alta Vista)

To honour Andrea Thompson’s lifelong commitment to supporting marginalized communities, the City proposes renaming Confederation Park to “Andrea Thompson Park.” As Executive Director of the Confederation Court Community House and recipient of the United Way’s Community Builder of the Year award (2016), Andrea’s leadership continues to uplift Ottawa’s most vulnerable residents.

Paul Dewar Field House (Ward 15 – Kitchissippi)

To recognize Paul Dewar’s outstanding leadership and advocacy for equity and youth empowerment, the City proposes renaming the Van Lang Field House to the “Paul Dewar Field House.” A former MP for Ottawa Centre, from 2006 to 2015, Paul launched “Youth Action Now” in 2018 and was awarded the Key to the City for his lasting contributions to civic engagement and education.

Sindy Hooper Park (Ward 4 – Kanata North)

The City proposes renaming Kimmins Court Park to “Sindy Hooper Park” in tribute to Sindy’s inspiring advocacy and fundraising for pancreatic cancer research. Diagnosed in 2013, Sindy defied odds and raised over $550,000 through athletic events. Her courage and generosity continue to inspire hope in the community.

Steve Barban Arena (Ward 19 – Orléans South-Navan)

In honour of Steve Barban’s decades-long dedication to hockey and youth development in Cumberland, the City proposes naming the arena at the Navan Memorial Centre the “Steve Barban Arena.” Steve’s leadership with the Navan Grads and support for competitive hockey—especially for girls and underprivileged players—left a lasting legacy in the community.

Steve Gilroy Boardroom (Ward 22 – Riverside South-Findlay Creek)

In recognition of Steve Gilroy’s exceptional community service, the City proposes naming the boardroom in Fred Barrett Arena the “Steve Gilroy Boardroom.” Steve’s tireless volunteer work, especially maintaining the outdoor hockey rink, helped foster a vibrant, inclusive space in Findlay Creek where residents of all ages could connect and build lasting memories.