City council approved a collection of new names for elements within Meridian Square in downtown Barrie, Monday night.
The community event stage will be known as The Wildfire-Peacock Stage to recognize the Peacock Foundation’s sponsorship
contribution of $250,000. The Peacock family, which has been in the Barrie area since 1856 and has supported many community initiatives over the years. Wildfire is derived from a publishing arm of their Kempenfelt Graphics business.
Meanwhile, the western promenade, which extends from Dunlop Street to Simcoe Street/Heritage Park, will be named Cullington Way to recognize Angela Baldwin and Mark Jepp’s contribution of $100,000. Cullington is a reference to Jepp’s mother’s maiden name.
The eastern promenade, also extending from Dunlop Street to Simcoe Street/Heritage Park, will be named Pte. Frank Samuel Sivell Way to recognize the contribution of $100,000 by Jamie Massie and Wendy Massie to the downtown project.
Pte. Sivell was Mr. Massie’s grandfather and a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 48th Highlanders. He lost his leg at the hip in the Battle of Vimy Ridge during the First World War. Sivell was one of several amputee veterans who worked in the prosthetic department at Christie Street Hospital; each of these veterans built a cottage at Leonard’s Beach on a street that became known as Christie Street at the 10th Line of Innisfil.
The Kiwanis Club of Barrie will be recognized with signs in the area of the Nine Mile Portage tiers to identify the club’s contribution of $175,000.
Each naming agreement will remain in place for 25 years, ending Sept. 30, 2043.
Meridian Credit Union is the title sponsor for the downtown Barrie redevelopment project, with naming rights for 25 years, for the space stretching from the Memorial Square cenotaph area to Heritage Park/ Simcoe Street, which is called Meridian Place.
