Does Thunder Bay International Airport need a new name? Joe Fiorito thinks so - Action News
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Does Thunder Bay International Airport need a new name? Joe Fiorito thinks so

It's time Thunder Bay International Airport had a new name, honouring one of the many great leaders from northwestern Ontario, argues author and journalist Joe Fiorito, who grew up in the city.

C.D. Howe, Saul and Bora Laskin, Mary J.L. Black, Norval Morrisseau, Fats Delvecchio among suggested names

Thunder Bay International Airport is too bland a name for a city with so many 'towering figures' says writer Joe Fiorito.

It's time Thunder Bay International Airport had a new name, honouring one of the many great leaders from northwestern Ontario, argues author and journalist Joe Fiorito, who grew up in the city.

Fiorito recently made his case in aToronto Star columnsayingCanada's sesquicentennial next year is the perfect opportunity to replace the airport's bland name with that of a person who made a mark on the city and the country.

"There's a way that we have to mark who we are and who we want to be and the naming of our places and institutions is a way to do that," he said.

Does the Thunder Bay International Airport need a better name? Writer and former Westfort resident Joe Fiority thinks so

In a conversation with CBC's Superior Morning, Fioritomadefive suggestions for potential namesakes. Here's what he had to say about each of them:

  • 1. C.D. Howe
C.D. Howe 'the Minister of Everything', watches a scientist test the curve of a lens at the Instruments Division of the Canadian Arsenals Ltd. optical plant in April 1941. (Library and Archives Canada)
"He was a giant among us. During the war he was the Minister of Everything. He's the guy who really, in fact, tabled the legislation that created the CBC.He's the guy whodesigned and built many of the elevators that used to dot the waterfront. Hewas the first Member of Parliament for the newly created riding of Port Arthur."
  • 2. The Laskin brothers, Bora and Saul
Saul Laskin, pictured here in 1970, was the first mayor of Thunder Bay. (Ontario Jewish Archives)
"Saul was the first mayor of the amalgamated cities and Bora was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and he was in the saddle when the constitution was repatriated. Talk about firsts, talk about importance, I just think they're towering figures."
  • 3. Mary J.L. Black
Mary J.L. Black was appointed as the first librarian for the Fort William Public Library (now the Thunder Bay Public Library) in 1909. (Thunder Bay Public Library)
"My personal favourite. The first woman to head the Ontario Library Association. Here's her quote, the most important quote that I know of:

'The role of the library is to carry the right book to the right reader at the least cost; to make people happy; to give them a touch of home they never get; to provide a social centre; to make people more efficient in their various lines of work; to teach people how to read for the simple joy of it; to show that books are not ends in themselves but only an instrument to create the highest type of humanity, possibly a new nationality, a new Canadian or possibly, again, the so-called ideal state of a society in which the bonds of nationality are destroyed.'

I would really like the idea of flying towards that."

  • 4. Fats Delvecchio
Alex (Fats) Delvechio played for the Detroit Red Wings for the duration of his NHL career from 1950 to 1974, winning three Stanley Cups and three Lady Byng Memorial Trophies. (psacard.com)
"The list of famous people from Thunder Bay is long and it's repletewithhockey players but the greatest amongst these was Fats Delvecchiothree Stanley Cups, 1,549 games, 1281 points, more points in the playoffs."

  • 5. Norval Morrisseau
Norval Morrisseau was dubbed the 'Picasso of the North' for his striking style.
"His body of work is unparalleled. I know of nothing like it in the world. He is a force unto himself. In the case of Thunder Bay, particularly when it comes to Native people, heis symbolic in ways we all should know and this would give us a way to recognize that. He was known as Copper Thunderbird. Imagine flying into Copper Thunderbird airport."

Morrisseau is Fiorito's preferred choice because "it would be a symbol for all of the people who come from the north into the regional centre, it would be symbolic in Thunder Bay itself, given the difficult history my hometown has regarding issues of race."

Fiorito said the Chamber of Commerce, municipal leaders or a private groupwould need to take up the cause of renaming the airportquickly in order to have it done for the nationalcelebrations in 2017.

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