Sharon Hiebert and her dog, Bisco, take an afternoon walk through Minto Park. Dogs should show more respect for monuments, residents say.
Centretown doesn’t have much greenspace, let alone green space for dogs.
One of the areas where they are allowed is the heritage district of Minto Park. But some residents say they want dog owners to encourage their pets to show more respect for the park by keeping them off the park’s monuments.
“I wouldn’t allow my children to do it, so dogs shouldn’t either,” says Bonnie Mabee, Centretown Citizens’ Community Association member.
“I’m not against dogs in the park, but they should have respect for the monuments,” she says.
Dogs are currently allowed unleashed in Minto Park, which means it’s possible they could be running and playing on monuments.
The monuments and entire park will soon be recognized by the City of Ottawa with a commemorate heritage plaque, emphasizing the historic importance of Minto Park.
According to Mabee, the Ottawa Women’s Monument in the park should be especially revered by dogs and dog owners, because it pays tribute to women who were victims of violence.
The monument was dedicated in 1992 and is made up of a collection of stones. Each stone represents a woman’s life taken away by violence, says Mabee.
“Any monument, [including the Ottawa Women’s Monument], regardless of what it’s representing needs protection and respect,” says Heather McArthur, local architectural conservation advisory committee member.
On Feb. 17, Minto Park will receive the plaque commemorating its heritage status. McArthur and other committee members, alongside the City of Ottawa, were the key proponents in granting Minto Park a heritage plaque.
The park has been a heritage district without a plaque for 20 years because the city has a limited budget and can only grant one or two plaques each year, says Stuart Lazear, Ottawa’s co-ordinator of heritage planning. The plaques are very expensive, about $3,000 each, and the city has over 350 heritage sites, he adds.
“Receiving this plaque will hopefully educate residents, letting them know why Minto Park is special and why it should be respected,” says Shawn Menard, president of the CCCA.
“I hope it will inspire residents, both human and dog, to show the utmost respect for Minto’s monuments.”
According to Candice O’Connell, chair and founder of Responsible Dog Owners of Canada, education is the most important tool in dealing with dogs respecting monuments.
“Educating owners about the monuments is the most important thing to do if you want them to elicit respect from their dogs,” she says.
Ultimately, it’s up to the dog owners to have control of their dogs at all times, says O’Connell. It should be incumbent for the dog owners to realize the importance of these monuments, she adds. It’s obvious that dogs have the need to run and play, says McArthur, and it’s nice they can have fun and fill that need in Minto Park.
“I’m so glad the park is loved by people and dogs,” says Mabee, a former dog owner herself. “I just want our little bit of oasis in this busy city to be respected.”