Say So Long to a Sense of Civic Duty

During the summer months, I frequently stroll across the Victoria street bridge, which has been, since my arrival in Saskatoon, the subject of many a controversy. This, the first bridge to unite the city of Saskatoon with Nutana, was purported to be structurally unsafe and was closed to vehicle traffic for an entire year. There was some discussion about tearing it down, but this was decided against due to its historical value. Instead, the city decided to repair the bridge at great expense eventhough these repairs are only a temporary solution.

This newly refurbished bridge has, once again, been in the news as its name has been called into question. Apparently it doesn't have an official name; some call it the Victoria street bridge, some call it the Traffic Bridge, some just call it "that rickety old bridge that I hate to drive across." Consequently, the city set out to name this bridge.

This is where I come into the story.

One fine afternoon, which I'm sure was fine despite the January winter because my apartment is rather warm all year round (that was a useless bit of information and, for that, I apologize), I had the opportunity to overhear a startling bit of news on the television. It appeared that some city council member, who touts himself as an expert in the city's history, wished to officially name the bridge: "The Traffic Bridge."

Reader, I was horrified. I realize that the bridge was first known by this name to residents of the area, but, dear god, not all that is old (traditional) is good!

I asked myself, "Is there a kind of bridge that is NOT for some kind of traffic?" What a ridiculously redundant, and, therefore, boring, name for a bridge!

Well, this led me to my first and, quite possibly, last foray into city politics: I wrote a letter to City Council. Yes, it's true. I wrote to them to let them know of my displeasure with such an insipid name. Furthermore, I suggested what I thought were two (better) names:

1. Union Bridge
2. Unity Bridge

Either name struck me as more clearly expressing the role this bridge played in the history of the city of Saskatoon AND of sounding nicer than "traffic bridge."

I was assured that my letter would be read and that I would receive notice of the council's decision. Of course, like many of you, I have already learned from the news that the council stuck with "Traffic Bridge." But today I received the aforementioned "notice" of the action taken by the council. It was rather disappointing. I thought I might receive some explanation of why they chose such a monotonous name, but instead I received a list of four motions passed by the council on January 22nd, one of which was, of course, the wretched naming of the bridge.

The moral of the story is that boring, unimaginative people run for city council and that I should refrain from poking my nose and vocabulary where it shant be appreciated.

**I apologize for the excessive use of commas; I have been reading Henry James. Sigh.