UPDATE: OCTOBER 30, 2023
City of Saint John announces name for new redeveloped waterfront public space
The City of Saint John announced the official name of the public space that is part of the new waterfront redevelopment area at Monday’s Common Council meeting. Council voted in favour of the Civic Commemoration Committee’s recommendation to name the space Ihtoli-maqahamok - The Gathering Space (ee-doe-lee MAH-qwah-HA-muck).
The name, which comes from the Wolastoqey language, acknowledges the location’s role as an important gathering space. Located just beyond the intersection of King and Water streets, Ihtoli-maqahamok – The Gathering Space is the city’s newest community space as part of the larger waterfront development project.
For many decades the space has been used for community gatherings. More recently, it provides access to some of Saint John’s finest restaurants, local shops, and the Saint John Free Public Library.
Now, the space is being reinvigorated and reimagined, with the addition of community-focused infrastructure that include a skating rink, indoor/outdoor patios, a stage for concerts, film screenings, and other special events. It will also include space for craft and food vendors, and easy access to enjoy the waterfront.
The design elements of Ihtoli-magahamok – The Gathering Space are rooted in three foundations of the City: the people, the water, and the rocks. It will be a significant landmark and a place of togetherness. A destination, and a meeting place for locals and visitors to come together.
To familiarize yourself with the definition and pronunciation of Ihtoli-maqahamok, we encourage you to visit the Passamaquoddy-Maliseet language portal:
Definition: https://pmportal.org/taxonomy/term/1637
Pronunciation: https://pmportal.org/dictionary/ihtoli-maqahamok
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The public is invited to help the City's Civic Commemoration Committee select a name for the (soon to be) newly redeveloped public gathering space near Market Slip.
This area has been a gathering space in the City for over 12,000 years. Over the past 250 years, infill has expanded the public’s access to the space, and in recent decades the classic brick warehouses have become popular boardwalk restaurants, shops, home to the New Brunswick Museum, the public library, and an access point to hotels and the Trade and Convention Centre.
This year, the area is once again being redeveloped with the addition of new buildings, an extension of Harbour Passage, and infrastructure including a skating oval, four season patios, a stage for concerts, open air film screenings, public gatherings, and special events.
The design elements of this new public space are rooted in the three foundations of the City: The Water, The Rocks, and The People. It will be a public space, a meeting place, and a destination for locals and visitors to enjoy. The public spaces are anticipated to be completed in 2023.
The public is encouraged to submit name recommendations for this space using the following criteria:
- Recognizes a person, event, or group of people who have demonstrated exceptional service to the residents of the region
- Significance to the history and or culture of the area
- Flora and/or fauna of the area
- Geographical or topographical features
- Must be original and not duplicates of other spaces or street names in the region
- Must not be offensive to a person or group of people
- Must not include parody, slang, inappropriate humour, or double meanings
Names will be evaluated by staff based on appropriateness, cultural and historical significance, diversity, originality, and the relation to the design elements.
Using the comment boxes below, please provide the suggested name and brief reasoning behind it.
Feedback will be collected until August 26, 2022 and a name will be recommended to Common Council in early Fall 2022.
