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That insightful vision was enshrined and enforced in Montreal from 1941 to at least 1962 as kids from each park elected their own mayor, aged usually between 10-12 or so.
In the 1940s about 55,000 kids were eligible to vote in about 100 parks and that total eventually ballooned to 244 in the early 60s.
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There were actual elections too. Only a small number won by acclamation, for example 14 of 122 were decided without a vote in 1953.
Montreal's mayor would consult the playground mayors as well, so it wasn't a merely symbolic position either.
An annual session as held where the kids were involved to urge the mayor to add swimming pools and make other tweaks to parks.
It's brilliant idea that needs to be revived. We at Coolopolis have noted the absolute disaster that has resulted in the loss of these voices, as representatives have been cynically sacrificing park space in exchange for the promise of votes without giving any thought to the greater interest.
The ritual also helped the kids learn and participate in the democratic process and showed them that their voices could be heard through that process. McGill's Francine Granner was one of the thousands of kids who served as playground mayors, representing Van Horne Park and considering that there were likely something like 5,000 of these young kids elected, there are undoubtedly many other notables as well.
* Hochelaga Playground Mayor Serge Leonard with Mayor Jean Drapeau 31/7/62
**In 1951 there were 207 playground mayors and Mayor Camilien Houde is seen welcome Patsy McPolland and Ronald McPolland (left) and Robert Levac and Anita Levac (right) representing Richmond Square and Centre Park respectively.
As I have mentioned in previous park-related posts, I've watched with dismay the systematic ruination of many parks in recent years through neglect, vandalism, Anglos leaving, apathetic new immigrants, etc. This proves the old "broken window" adage--a potentially dire situation which can lead to run-down neighbourhoods.
ReplyDeleteOf course, no major since Jean Drapeau has had his vision, nor could we reasonably have expected every one of his successors to have risen to the high bar he set.
Around 1955 when Montreal's parks were greatly upgraded to include the still-existing chalets and outdoor swimming pools, sports equipment was handed out to anyone who requested them, including shuffleboard and croquet gear, various balls, hockey pucks, and so on.
At some point, the kids handing out this gear were replaced by older men who were either semi or fully retired. Presumably, these men were paid a low salary or perhaps even minimum wage. They had an office and a telephone inside their chalet. (Perhaps a few of them reading this can post their experiences here?)
Eventually, however, even these men were turfed out and the chalets were left unsupervised, inevitably making them targets for vandalism. Many of the folding walls were shut for good and the hockey changing rooms and washrooms were closed for the winter.
Many of the original and very popular baseball diamonds, bleachers, and fencing were removed and replaced by soccer nets which have proven to be much less used, despite the popularity of our Impact team. Perhaps if Canada created a winning national team, might that get our kids more involved?
Basketball nets have been installed in greater numbers as well, but I am not aware of any organized teams which could create healthy park or borough rivalries.
In recent years, ther has been some park renovation and more summertime activity, but mostly aimed at young children. Clearly, much more needs to be done, however.
Hopefully, Mayor Coderre will follow up on his baseball enthusiasm and manage to obtain significant park funding from our current tight-fisted provincial government.
What would today's kids demand for their parks? Free wifi and USB charging ports?
ReplyDeleteMy Uncle Russell was once mayor of NDG Park when he was a kid!
ReplyDeleteI remember when the mayor was chosen for Oxford park around 1955, we had a small parade around the neighbourhood.
ReplyDeleteDC Stubbs,
ReplyDeleteDid your uncle tell you any stories or relate any incidents to you concerning his tenure at NDG Park?
If so, please pass them along, thanks. :-)
My friend Joe Galati was mayor of Richmond Park when he was a kid, he's telling me all about it. We should bring it back!
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