The Controversy Behind Amherstburg
By Cody Pelacek, Kaiden Collver, and Elisha Wang
Amherstburg was first established as a small fort around 1797 by the British during their expansion over Canada and later became a town in 1878. Today, this town has a population of around 21,936 people (2016) and boasts its rich history to citizens and tourists alike. Many are welcome to stroll around the town and take in the old architecture along with the historical monuments.
However, what most people don't realize about this seemingly peaceful place, is the controversy that surrounds the name 'Amherstburg'. The name comes from a man called Lord Jeffery Amherst who lived during the 1700s. He served as an officer in the British army during the Seven Years' War and since then has been criticized for supporting the use of biological warfare against the First Nations people of Canada. In the sections below, we will delve further into the history of this controversy and discuss whether or not this town should consider changing its name.
Establishing Amherstburg
In 1878 Amhestburg was made an official town which they clearly named after Sir Jefferey Amherst. This was at a time that Amherst was still only known for his military achievements and his revealing letters were not public knowledge. There is an argument to made that even if they were widely known that most settlers at the time still would not have cared as the population was largely made up of next generation British settlers whose ancestors were given land by the Crown as compensation for their losses in the Thirteen Colonies or for military service. This was an age where racism was still commonplace as the Crown had just abolished 47 years prior in 1831.
In 1998 the township of Amherstburg absorbed Malden and Anderdon to become a larger Amherstburg. A year earlier, amidst the transition, all three townships began the discussion of changing the name of the town once officially joined because at this point the controversy of Amherst’s accusations had become common knowledge. Overall it seems that most citizens of Amherstburg were open to changing the name of the town. Supporting a bigot with such a stained past by keeping the name seemed out of the question. Or was it?
Vote to keep "Amherstburg"
An article from the Windsor Star titled "Amherstburg's name survives merger: Despite the dark history of Lord Jeffery Amherst, residents favor keeping the towns name when the three municipalities are amalgamated" from June 1997 chronicles the townships decision to keep the name because of numerous reasons. Many residents said they didn't want to change the name if it meant having to change their addresses, while members of the council believed keeping the name Amherstburg would be "more convenient and cheaper". Changing the name was supposed to "offer some equality" to all three municipalities but Amherstburg Councillor Tony DiBartolomeo said that "the thought of a change became such an overriding issue--more than the idea of amalgamation itself".
That being said, with more than 20 years of ever expanding global connectivity and rapidly changing social climates since the idea was last brought to the table, there's a large chance that the community of Amherstburg's stance on their home towns name has changed. Maybe it's time to revisit the possibility of renaming Amherstburg for the benefit of the people. Here are a few ideas that could be considered when coming up with a new moniker
Renaming the Town
Naming a town is difficult because it needs to embody the values of the community that lives within it. It must be a name that the residents can be proud of. The problem of course with controversial names like Amherstburg, which have been around for generations, is the attachment people have gained toward it regardless of the negative connotations. That's why if the name is to be changed, the name must come from something as deeply engrained in the community as the original.
1. Name it after another, less controversial historical figure
To keep the sentiment of the town name by honoring someone, maybe it would be best to honor another figure connected to the town that has actually done good for the community. One thing Amherstburg is known for is the Amherstburg Freedom Museum which details the stories of the African American individuals that crossed the Detroit river into Canada to escape to freedom after slavery was abolished by the Crown. One of the most notable figures of this time was George Debaptiste, who was an African American Conductor on the Underground Railroad that helped hundreds of African Americans gain safe passage across the Detroit river into Amherstburg in his steamboat. We believe this is the type of person that should be memorialized and would make a great candidate for renaming the town after.
2. Change it to something completely different that still carries weight in the community
Provincial Commissioner Ian Wilson already suggested renaming the town Fort Malden back in 1997 after the original fort Amherst was expanded upon. Perhaps naming it something completely different and putting the old name behind them is the best route. The town could leave it up to popular vote similar to how sports teams mascots are decided by the cities population. They could also address the town for something else it is known for, the same way London, Ontario has the pseudonym of “the Forest City”, since it is known for trying to preserve a lot of its nature. It does not have to be nature related but the people of the town know the town best and could collectively decide on something they would rather be known for, such as their ferrying services or their historical importance.
3. Name it something reminiscent, but not connected, to the original
If the citizens of Amherstburg are so attached to the name, or concerned about having to change their address, maybe changing the name to something closer to the original like Ambersburg or Amersburg would be a better decision because it no longer directly celebrates Jeffery Amherst, although we're sure some might argue this would not be enough of a change to warrant going through all the effort in the first place. It would still mean changing their address but it wouldn't be as hard of a switch.
Conclusion
Seeing as how today's society is becoming more progressive, there is very little tolerance for hate. Furthermore, as society progresses it is important to leave symbols of hate in the past to create a more accepting future. Although Canada may have a flawed history, our future does not have to be. By learning from the past and adapting for our future, we can create a more accepting Canada one step at a time. Currently, Amherstburg is not a representation of what Canada wishes to stand for, but rather a looking glass into its flawed past. If we are to totally overcome the hate and misrepresentation, a change of name is in order. As previously stated, this can come in multiple forms, however something must be done to negate the idolization of a grossly misguided man like Sir Jeffery Amherst.
Image Citations:
