Most people would not know that Cobourg’s West Headland has the official name of Langevin Pier but in the late 1800’s, when the western headland was built, it was called a “pier” and named the Langevin Pier.  This was of course named after Sir Hector Langevin who was a Father of Confederation, and a minister of Public Works at the time.  But unfortunately, he was also a man of his times and was a chief architect of Canada’s residential school system, which aimed to “eliminate aboriginal people as distinct peoples and to assimilate them into the Canadian mainstream against their will.” He specifically argued in favour of removing children from their parents and family in order to speed assimilation.  That… Read complete articleShould Cobourg’s Langevin Pier be renamed?