The city of Montreal says it won't rename a street after renowned piano teacher Daisy Peterson Sweeney — but that they'll find a compromise if the family is unhappy with renaming a park for the woman who mentored jazz greats Oscar Peterson and Oliver Jones.
Sweeney's family said they were insulted and disappointed when informed by the city by letter that they would not be renaming a street after the co-founder of what was to become the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir, but instead would honour her by renaming a park on Guy St. near Paxton St. bordering Little Burgundy, a community with close ties to Sweeney.
It's a small hilly greenspace with some trees wedged in between homes and a parking lot for a restaurant. There are also two community composting bins in the park now called Parc Guy/Paxton.
The promise to rename a street after Sweeney was made shortly after her death on Aug. 11, 2017, at the age of 97, by then-mayor Denis Coderre. Celine Peterson, daughter of Oscar Peterson and Sweeney's niece, said they weren't consulted about the fact that a tiny park will be named in her honour instead.
Just spoke to my brother Oliver Jones. I promised him we will make sure there will be a Daisy Peterson Sweeney street in her honour shortly pic.twitter.com/03El7mYJWs
— DenisCoderre (@DenisCoderre) August 16, 2017
Mayor Valérie Plante told reporters they would look at other options if the family is not happy but that streets already have names and they would not be renaming or getting rid of street names for others.
"It has now been a year and the disrespect shown to my aunt's legacy and everything that she has worked for is just unacceptable," said Peterson in an interview with CJAD 800. "It looks like a little dog run, and I'm not the only one who thinks that."
Peterson added that her dad, who she said was only recognized and honoured after he died, would also be disappointed.
"We have an awful habit of waiting until these figures are gone before we decide, 'Oh, we should do something to honour them,' " she said. "And it's a shame it's happening to Daisy as well."