​Kincardine okays $15,000 for facilitator to assist with process leading to decision on Secord Monument

Kincardine council has agreed to spend up to $15,000 on an external consultant(s) to assist with the facilitation of a public engagement process regarding equity, diversity and inclusion which will help council in its decision-making related to the Dr. Solomon Secord Monument.

That’s the long-winded version of the original motion that council grappled with at its meeting Wednesday night (Jan. 24).

Originally, council was considering a motion to direct staff to hire an external consultant to host a public engagement process to identify recommendations for council’s consideration on the future location of the Secord Monument.

This all stems from the removal of the monument from its downtown location in front of the Kincardine Library during the reconstruction of Queen Street last year.

Back in September, council directed staff to prepare a report with recommendations on possible options for public engagement regarding the future location of the monument. Staff had stated that due to the new layout of the downtown, the monument cannot be returned to its exact previous location.

In her report to council at Wednesday night’s meeting, strategic initiatives director Lorie Fioze states that in order to manage the public engagement process in a positive manner, the recommendation is for council to direct staff to hire an external facilitator to provide advice, guidance and facilitation of the process.

The report states that the monument was installed outside the Kincardine Library for Dr. Solomon Secord very shortly after his death in 1910. Secord was a doctor in Kincardine and the monument was put up in his honour by his patients and friends.

The monument is in the form of a sundial and the inscription on the monument reads: To Solomon Secord, 1834-1910. Our family physician for 50 years. This memorial was erected by his loving friends. Served as surgeon with the Southern Army during the American Civil War. All that lived he loved, and without regard for fee or reward, he did his work for love of his fellows.”

Fioze states that over the years, there have been requests to consider the removal of the monument due to the reference to Secord’s service to the Southern Army during the American Civil War. Among the many factors that led to the outbreak of that war, was slavery.

Public engagement about what to do with a monument that references a troublesome history is not straightforward and needs to be kept in the context of what kind of community and public spaces we want as a community, states the report.

In order to develop recommendations on the public engagement process for council, staff has consulted with some municipalities that have commemoration monuments that pay tribute to a time or a person in history that was troublesome. The purpose of the meetings was to learn about their public engagement process, their outcomes, their lessons learned and obtain advice on how to manage the process successfully. Among other advice, the choice of a facilitator was noted as most critical to the success of the process.

Based on initial research, staff is recommending that an external consultant be hired to provide the structure, and advise on the process, to make this a positive community building process rather than a divisive one. The public engagement process would begin in February and would conclude by July.

Fioze states that public conversations and the gathering of input will be integral to this process. Different methods for gathering this input will be implemented to ensure that all voices are heard on this matter. Methods to gather this input could include community conversations, key informant interviews, a public survey, etc., and will be planned based on advice from the facilitator.

Community consultations on the past and current methods to commemorate people in other communities have sparked controversy and ill will among community members, states the report. “A very sensitive and thoughtful approach to this work is needed in order to build a vision of the community we want to live in rather than create division.”

During discussion, mayor Kenneth Craig emphasized that the issue was whether or not to hire an external consultant, not determining the location of the monument.

“Thank you for this report and the thoughtful recommendation,” said deputy mayor Andrea Clarke. “This is so much larger than a decision about the monument, itself. It’s a discussion, fundamentally, about equity, diversity and inclusion in the municipality.”

She said hiring an external consultant to help with facilitation, is key.

“This is not a motion about policies and procedures,” she said. “However, those may be developed out of this.”

Clarke said public engagement helps council determine what the public wants to see in this municipality.

“That forms the foundation for everything we do,” she said. “It encompasses race, gender, sexual orientation and accessibility. It’s an important conversation and we need a facilitator who is trained in equity, diversity and inclusion, to help us make the determination about the Secord Monument.

“This is an important conversation and it is long overdue.”

Councillor Mike Hinchberger agreed, saying that originally, he thought council should just make a decision on the location of the Secord Monument. However, his opinion has changed based on the misrepresentation of the report and comments made on social media.

“That convinced me that this is required,” he said. “It’s important to challenge what you know and where you get that from. Your lived experience and your views may not reflect those of others.”

Councillor Bill Stewart requested the motion be deferred until the facilitator’s job is better defined.

However, that received no support.

The motion was approved, 8-1. In the recorded vote, councillors Beth Blackwell, Jennifer Prenger, Amanda Steinhoff-Gray, Doug Kennedy, Rory Cavanagh, Hinchberger, Clarke and Craig voted in favour, with Stewart the lone vote against.