February 21, 2024
Edmonton City Council approved a new name for the community of Oliver, capping off an almost four-year community-led process to replace the former name as part of our reconciliation journey with Indigenous Peoples.
The community will now be called Wîhkwêntôwin ᐄᐧᐦᑫᐧᐣᑑᐃᐧᐣ, pronounced We-Kwen-To-Win, a nêhiyawêwin (Cree) word that means Circle of Friends. The community league submitted this name to the City’s Naming Committee, which approved it in August 2023. Council approved the name on February 21, 2024. This is the first neighbourhood renaming of its kind in Edmonton.
“This has been an amazing and thorough process,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “Members of the community took this renaming initiative on themselves, working with area residents and guided by Indigenous Elders. I’m proud of Edmontonians who take the time to learn about our history — the good and the bad — and take steps to try to right past wrongs. My Council colleagues and I are pleased to accept and honour this new name.”
The suggestion to rename the neighbourhood came through the 2020
Uncover Oliver campaign, which shed light on the history of Frank Oliver, for whom the neighbourhood was named in the 1930s. While Mr. Oliver was considered a distinguished Edmontonian and politician in his time, his name is also associated with discriminatory practices within the federal government that involved curtailing First Nations land rights and impeding Black immigration.
“We’re really excited to bring this journey to City Council. The support along the way from volunteers, board members, the Renaming Circle, City of Edmonton, Naming Committee and City Council has been incredible and we couldn’t have done it without everyone contributing,” said Imran Ahmad, President of the Oliver Community League. “Wîhkwêntôwin showcases our neighbourhood, making a statement of who we want to be while acknowledging the harms of the past. This is a new chapter for our wonderful community, bringing on a name that honours the land where we live, work, eat and play.”
In 2022, the community league created a Renaming Circle involving Indigenous community members, including Elders and leaders, as well as representatives from Black and
2SLGBTQQIA+ communities — many of them impacted by Mr. Oliver’s problematic legacy. Broader community engagement followed with neighbourhood residents.
“We are taking a significant step towards reconciliation and unity in our city. We want to enrich our collective history with a sense of togetherness,” said Erin McDonald, Chair of the Naming Committee. “By renaming this community to Wîhkwêntôwin, we pay tribute to a legacy of friendship and inclusivity. We acknowledge our past while embracing a future where every resident feels a sense of belonging. This decision will lay a foundation for a more harmonious and inclusive community.”
Engagement with residents included two in-person engagement sessions, an online submission form and visits by community league volunteers to local businesses. Every residence and business in the neighbourhood received a postcard informing them of the engagement, and information was also shared through the community’s social media channels. The Renaming Circle completed their process and proposed a final name in the spring of 2023.
The City of Edmonton will also make all the necessary changes to websites, maps, signage on existing facilities, and updates to related bylaws and other City of Edmonton documents. The official change is effective January 1, 2025, but some of these changes may not be completed until the end of 2025. The City’s cost to make these changes, including a name change to the future LRT stop, building and park signage and more, is estimated to be about $680,000. There may be further costs arising out of the renaming. Cost will be factored into the 2024 Fall Supplemental Budget Adjustment process as necessary.
Following the Indigenous Framework, which guides our reconciliation journey, and the Anti-racism Strategy, the City of Edmonton is committed to creating safe and welcoming spaces for Indigenous Peoples and all Edmontonians who call this place home, ensuring they can see themselves reflected in city spaces.
