As Centre Wellington council decides whether it will allow historic Elora Mohawks banners to be reinstalled at the Elora arena, it is hoped sensible conversations ensue.
A long-standing lacrosse fan asks in a letter to the editor why our print headline was different than the online version of the same story. Prior to leaving the office last Friday we asked the editor about that oddity.
It turns out high-level staff at the township of Centre Wellington had contacted the reporter who filed that story looking for the headline to be tamed down. Unbeknownst to the editor, the headline was changed online after township influence.
The word “banned” is negative, township officials claimed – “consciously inflammatory,” as the letter writer suggests. It was, regardless, the correct word.
The inappropriateness of the request by township leaders has been addressed with the mayor and the town personnel involved. A newsroom chat will happen as well that edited copy approved by the editor stands – unless an inaccuracy exists, in which case it will be corrected or clarified with speed and professionalism, as is our custom and pledge.
To assist those tempted to grab a dictionary or search for a definition:
Ban (banned) – to forbid something officially or legally so it cannot be done, used, seen or read. To forbid somebody from doing something.
At the end of the day, it was the correct word to use. But alas, the war against precision and utility of the English language rages strong, as does the battle to decipher truth, half-truths and mistruths.
In the coming weeks council will face some choices after staff failed to reinstall decades-old banners. The renovated Elora arena re-opened as the Jefferson Elora Community Centre in January of this year.
Something good can happen here if the parties involved choose to listen prior to drawing conclusions, but Mayor Shawn Watters could have his hands full on that score.
Already the matter has become far too political, with staff intervening to downplay this issue and one particular councillor giving parties involved the impression that “these older longtime residents are going to have to get with the times.” This hardly sounds like open minds when it comes to deciding how to deal with the past and finding a path forward.
Lacrosse is recognized as Canada’s oldest sport, dating back to 1859, although its roots precede that. Unreservedly, Lacrosse Canada summarizes this sport’s place in Canada’s history with “And, we owe it all to the people of the First Nations – and the Creator.” That’s as definitive a nod to the First Nations and its sport, shared annually by over 100,000 players across the country, as one could wish.
The Elora Mohawks date back to the 1960s and have been a formidable team, winning many championships. Great athletes emerged from that program – some considered small-town heroes, as seems to happen with organized sports in small centres. Generations of families have played and given back to the sport over that time.
Their history is our history. The fly in the ointment at this current juncture is the past appropriation of an Indigenous symbol and the use of the name Mohawks, which may be offensive to some. Major league sports teams with Indigenous monikers have undertaken similar discussions to reconcile their past.
Some will recall that in 2022 Centre Wellington minor lacrosse adopted the name Riverhawks out of deference and respect to conversations it had about the Mohawks name and logo. The sky hasn’t fallen and hundreds of youth, parents and coaches continue to embrace lacrosse with passion each season since.
Whether the Jr. ‘B’ team makes the change to a different name and logo is up to it. Council cannot force that, but if the team does not change the name/logo, the banner ban debate could well extend to the team itself being allowed access to this township-owned facility. That is the logical progression of this conversation over banners proudly won and displayed for decades, whether anyone wants to admit it or not.
Based on the Ontario Human Rights directive in 2019, the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) push in recent years and long overdue efforts to respect recommendations within the Truth and Reconciliation Report, the issue has been brought to a head.
Why the matter was raised during lacrosse playoffs and summer holidays is a legitimate question. The first advisory, after all, was issued five years ago.
Also, the arena was closed from April 2023 until January 2024 for renovations, giving plenty of time to develop a solid plan or at least a strategy for this eventuality.
Despite the obvious fumble by staff, this is now a conversation whose time has come. Yelling from the rafters or pointing fingers from the council dais, aren’t going to get us where we need to be, without undue angst.
It is a time to listen.
