When Sandy Sifert received news the City of Langford wanted to name a park in honour of her mother, Winnie, a former long-serving and much-loved councillor, she began planning a party to end all parties.
“I told my mom and she was just over the moon with it,” said Sifert. “She just thought that was the highest honour to be given.”
“We were all so excited about this park dedication,” she added, explaining that neighbours, family members from as far as Alberta and friends in the U.S. were all making plans to join the celebrations.
But that was in August 2022. Fast-forward to over two years later, and the Sifert family’s party plans are on ice.
According to Sifert, she was told the park naming decision was set to be approved in October 2022, but then, she says, "The [municipal] election happened".
At the first post-election full council meeting in December 2022, the new cohort of councillors made a decision to defer the park dedication until the ‘updated park naming policy’ is approved.
In December 2023, the council told Black Press Media a parks and trails naming policy would be brought forward for consideration "in the new year".
To this day, the policy has yet to be debated, only mentioned in passing in a report to councillors at a meeting on Sept. 3, where Sifert tried to raise her concerns during public participation. But Sifert says she was "cut off" by councillors.
"This is what they've been doing this whole time," she said.
Whilst frustrated and angered by the delay, for Sifert the overwhelming feeling that consumes her is sadness.
Winnie was diagnosed with dementia in 2018, and Sifert says that her mother’s condition has progressed to a point where she may not be able to fully engage in any celebrations, if they were to ever go ahead.
“It’s turned into what [the council] didn’t want - a memorial,” said Sifert.
"In the past, the council had named parks after people who have passed,” said Sifert about the phone call she received in August 2022 from a senior council staff member. “He said, ‘We don't want this to be a memorial for your mom, we want to honour her and everything that she's done for this community.'”
“Maybe there'll be some recognition from my mom, I don't know,” she added.
Winnie Sifert sat on the council for 27 years; she was also an active member in the community since she moved to Langford in the late 1970s.
“Everybody loves Winnie,” said Sifert. “She was a pillar of the community.”
Sifert says the original plan was to name Kettle Creek park in honour of her mother. But instead, she and others think that Ernhill Park, which is located steps away from Winnie’s original home, would be more appropriate.
“The locals around here want it named after Winnie,” said Sifert. “We've got people here that have said, ‘If the city won't, we'll make our own sign up and put it here.’”
There are also plans to resurrect a petition launched last year.
"It's still going to be a battle," said Sifert, refusing to give up. "I'm going to bring it up every time that it is on the agenda."
A City of Langford spokesperson told Black Press Media the parks and trails naming policy is one of several "outdated city policies" currently under review by city staff.
"The intent of the review of the parks and trails naming policy is to ensure the city has a clear and transparent parks and trails naming process," said the city spokesperson. "Once the staff's review of each policy is complete, each policy will be brought to committee and council for feedback and approval.”
