Laurel Point Park will soon be renamed to ‘Peter Pollen Waterfront Park’ in honour of former Victoria mayor Peter Pollen.
The three-acre park was recently expanded with land transferred from the federal government and will be renamed this month.
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It was originally established as Laurel Point Park by Peter Pollen and city council in 1975 after a paint company closed their business and moved from the location.
Pollen served on Victoria city council for one term before going on to become mayor for two terms between 1971-1975. He later returned to serve another two terms as mayor from 1981-1985, before retiring from municipal politics.
“A lot of the way Victoria looks and feels today can be attributed to the vision and leadership of Peter Pollen,” said Mayor Lisa Helps in a statement.
“I had an opportunity to meet Peter shortly after being elected and was moved by the passion and dedication he still had for public access to the harbour and the importance of public spaces. It’s fitting that we name this waterfront park in his honour.”
Pollen was a champion of preserving Victoria’s natural beauty and one of his biggest accomplishments was the beautification of the Inner Harbour.
His legacy includes the construction of the Lower Causeway, and banning billboards in the City of Victoria. Pollen passed away in January 2017 at the age of 89.
“My husband Peter made Victoria his home for over 50 years,” said MaryAnn Pollen in a release.
“He referred to the Inner Harbour as the jewel of Victoria and believed strongly in public access to this beautiful waterfront. Our family is deeply honoured by this dedication in his memory.”
A ceremony to officially rename Laurel Point Park in his memory will be attended by Pollen’s family and take place on October 26th.
