Members of Orléans’ francophone community are upset over the renaming of the Orléans Health Hub to the Aline-Chrétien Health Hub, which translates to the Carre-four santé Aline-Chrétien.

The decision to remove Orléans from the name of the Orléans Health Hub has upset a a number of francophone leaders living in the community. MONTFORT FOUNDATION GRAPHIC

But they are not so upset over the choice of the person who the building has been named after as they over the fact that the word “Orléans” has been removed without any consultation with the community.

According to the Orléans Health Hub website, the centre received a $1.5 million donation as part of a campaign to raise $12 million to help fund construction of the building. There's is no mention of who made the donation accept that it precipitated the name change.

“The Montfort Foundation offers major donors a say in the naming that meets their level of giving. Thus, following an exceptional pledge, in consultation with the Hôpital Montfort’s administration, the Hub will henceforth bear the name ‘Aline-Chrétien Health Hub’."

The naming of buildings and other significant landmarks is often reserved for prominent community leaders, such as politicians like mayors and prime ministers, or people who have played a role in building the local community. Not only was Aline Chrétien not a community figure of any standing in Orléans, it’s doubtful she had ever visited the community.

Société franco-ontarienne du patrimoine et de l’histoire d’Orléans (SFOPHO) vice-president Louis Patry is responsible for naming a number of streets and parks in Orléans after the area’s earliest settlers and community builders.

In order to name a street or park in the City of Ottawa, you have to go through an extensive process that includes submitting documentation as to why the person’s name should be used, which is followed by a period during which member’s of the public can provide their own input.

In an interview with the Orléans Star, Patry made it clear that he has nothing against Aline Chrétien, rather he wants Orléans to somehow remain part of the name.

Patry found out about the name change on Oct. 20, the day it was announced during a reception for major donors at the Health Hub. He was taken by complete surprise as was a number of other prominent francophone leaders in the area, especially after the facility had been advertised as the Orléans Health Hub for more than 10 years and during the entire fundraising campaign.

“The whole fundraising campaign was carried out using the name Carrefour santé Orléans, and then as soon as they reach their goal they remove the name Orléans. It’s trickery,” argues Patry who was subsequently informed in a letter from Montfort Foundation president and CEO Marc Villeneuve that naming the health hub after Madame Chrétien was the “exclusive responsibility of the Montfort Hospital’s board of directors”.

Patry says the best and easiest solution is to follow the example of the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex and just add Orléans at the end. So, it would be called the Aline-Chrétien Health Hub - Orléans, or Carrefour santé Aline-Chrétien - Orléans. He made that suggestion in writing to Marc Villeneuve. So far he has not had a response.