Community events banned from historic downtown park in Ontario city under new criteria
An Oshawa councillor wants the city to “reaffirm” Memorial Park – the heart of downtown for more than a century – as a public gathering space after several groups who have used the park in the past were told their permits would be denied because the “criteria has changed.”
Ward 4 Councillor Derek Giberson said the city has put in new restrictions that would block many community events from using Memorial Park – without any direction from council – with some groups receiving emails notifying them the criteria had been changed for events that could be hosted there.
“Under the new rules, the annual Labour Day Picnic hosted by the Durham Region Labour Council would not meet the criteria to be hosted in the park. Same for numerous other community-oriented events,” Giberson said. “These are exactly the kinds of events that bring our downtown to life. People come for the celebration – and they stay. They grab a meal on King Street, visit the Canadian Automotive Museum, browse local shops. Every community gathering in that park is a boost to downtown Oshawa, and an investment in the businesses and organizations that make it worth visiting.”
To preserve the heritage, dignity, and align with the park’s commemorative and cultural significance, the following event criteria have been established to guide all future permitting:
Heritage and memorial ceremonies that focus on or involve the War Memorial/Cenotaph
Performing arts celebrations and activities, including dance, music, and theatre, held at the McLaughlin Bandshell
Permits will not be issued for general use of the open park space. Event organizers must clearly demonstrate how their event aligns with one of the approved criteria listed above.
Giberson’s motion to council Monday – which will require a two-thirds vote just to be heard – would:
Reaffirm Memorial Park as a public gathering space open to booking a broad range of community events
Set aside these new restrictions until a proper review has been done and council has weighed in
Ensure the Labour Day Picnic goes ahead in Memorial Park this year
Durham Region Remembers – a candlelight vigil dedicated to honouring members of the community who have been murdered – is one such event that has been denied a permit.
“The City of Oshawa has rejected my memorial event from being held at Memorial Park this year, stating it ‘doesn’t fit their criteria,” said organizer Lisa Freeman, who has held the memorial at the park for the past four years and was told her permit would be denied because she hires local musicians to play at the event.
Freeman, who is also the president of CUPE Local 4788 in Oshawa, said Durham Region Remembers – held in late May – brings together many support services in one place, “offering compassion, connection, and help to those who need it most (and) has become deeply meaningful to many.”
“I believe this decision is unfair.”
Memorial Park was established in 1924 and has become a “vital and central public space” for a broad set of uses bringing together a cross-section of Oshawa communities in the years since, Giberson said.
It is the central location for the Fiesta Week street festival, an area for family activities during Kars on King and the Bright and Merry Market, as well as regular concerts at the Bandshell and Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Cenotaph.
It has also been the site of major events in Oshawa’s labour history, most significantly in the 1937 strike when 4,000 workers at General Motors went on to secure historic rights that would go on to have national impact on industrial workers across Canada.
“It is in the best interest of the city to facilitate the use of this central community park in positive ways that bring people to downtown Oshawa, animate a vital piece of Oshawa’s history, and enrich the experience of all Oshawa residents and visitors.”
By Glenn Hendry, insauga
