A proposal to name a highway in honour of Cape Breton’s most iconic coal miner is being met with mixed reviews.
The Nova Scotia government wants to rename the road leading into New Waterford, ‘William Davis Way.’
Davis was shot and killed by mining company police during a protest in 1925 during a miner's strike in Cape Breton. Every year on June 11, the anniversary of his death, Nova Scotians remember miners killed on the job as part of Davis Day.
Davis’ granddaughter Norma MacDonald believes having a road named after her grandfather would be a fitting tribute, especially since it would coincide with the 90th anniversary of Davis Day.
“It would be incredible because we're having a big descendants of William Davis reunion this summer on June 11,” says MacDonald. “So people would be just thrilled to come home and see that.”
However, not everyone is thrilled with the province’s plan to rename the highway leading to Davis' hometown of New Waterford.
More than 200 residents have signed a petition, with most saying they agree with honouring Davis' memory, but are against any changes that would affect their home addresses.
“People were upset about having to go through all the hassle of having to change their civic addresses and the cost as well,” says resident Len Vassallo.
A concern MacDonald says she can sympathize with.
“It's a lot of work to have everything changed,” says MacDonald.
A solution being tossed around, to keep both sides happy, is to rename the highway after William Davis in a ceremonial way.
“That is an excellent idea,” says Vassallo.
“We just want his memory kept alive and for people to understand what he sacrificed,” says MacDonald.
A community meeting on the proposed road renaming is being held Wednesday evening.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald
