The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) announced on Friday the two names that will grace the municipality’s next two passenger ferries — Vincent Coleman and Rita Joe.
According to a press release, over 11,000 votes were cast during the 10-day voting period.
Matt Whitman, councillor for Hammonds Plains—St. Margarets, broke the news on Twitter, announcing the winning names a few minutes before the HRM had sent out its media release.
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Rita Joe was born and spent her childhood on a Mi’kmaq reserve at Whycocomagh on Cape Breton Island and is often referred to as the “poet laureate” of the Mi’kmaq people.
Vincent Coleman is famous for his decision to stay behind to warn an inbound train about the impending Halifax explosion, even as it cost him his own life.
David Hendsbee, councillor for Preston–Chezzetcook–Eastern Shore, was elated to find out that Coleman was one of the winning names. He’s been a vocal proponent for a ferry to be named after Coleman.
“I’m very pleased and elated that Vince Coleman’s name will finally be recognized and immortalized on one of our ferries in the Halifax harbour,” he told Global News in an interview.
“I’m conVINCED – #callitCOLEMAN!” he said in a text message to Global.
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According to the HRM, Vincent Coleman received over 5,000 votes while Rita Joe received over 2,000.
The Vincent Coleman will be used to name the next replacement ferry that is scheduled to arrive in fall 2017 while Rita Joe will grace the next ferry, expected to arrive in summer 2018.
“His sacrifice almost a hundred years ago during the harbour explosion will now be honoured with this naming,” Hendsbee said.
Asked why he championed the cause to have one of the ferries named after Coleman, Hendsbee said it was because the explosion’s upcoming anniversary.
“We’re acknowledging our 100th anniversary of the explosion later this year in December and I believe this gentleman’s sacrifice should be immortalized someway and I thought naming the ferry would be one of those appropriate things to do,” he said.
Hendsbee said Coleman has been in past naming contests but always finished second, and felt recognition was due.
He added that many people “don’t realize” the sacrifices both Halifax and Dartmouth went through the day a cargo ship carrying explosives collided with another vessel on Dec. 6, 1917, killing about 2,000 people.
“Especially this one gentleman who could have ran but this gentleman decided to stay at his post, warn the oncoming train ‘stay away, danger ahead’ and he gave up his life to save many more.”
Previous ferry-naming contest winners were Viola Desmond, Craig Blake and Christopher Stannix.
—With files from Sean Previl, Global News
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