Councillors support new name for courthouse
By Graeme McNaughton/The Oshawa Express
Durham Region has put in a request with the Attorney Genereal to rename the Durham Region Courthouse (Graeme McNaughton/The Oshawa Express).
Regional councillors have unanimously thrown their support behind renaming Oshawa’s courthouse.
Speaking at the latest session of regional council, Mayor John Henry and Councillor Bob Chapman spoke in favour of an initiative by the Ontario Regiment to name the Durham Region Courthouse after Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Sharpe.
In 1915, Sharpe, then a major, raised the 116th Battalion while second in command of the Oshawa-based Ontario Regiment. The new regiment, which saw action in Belgium and France, was made up of more than 1,100 men from Ontario County – much of which is now Durham Region.
Regional council hopes to name the courthouse after Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Sharpe who raised the 116th Battalion while in command of the Ontario Regiment. (Submitted Image).
“This is really an amazing tribute to a man who did great things,” Henry said during the council session. “To name the courthouse in Oshawa after him on the 150th anniversary next year of the Ontario Regiment, one year older than Confederation, on an address that’s 150, would be absolutely amazing.”
Chapman, himself a former commanding officer of the Ontario Regiment, spoke at length about Sharpe’s accomplishments, as well as his death.
Sharpe committed suicide in May 1918, jumping from a Montreal hospital window, facing what would now be seen as post-traumatic stress disorder.
“The intent behind this is instead of just calling it the Durham Courthouse, which becomes a cold centre for the judiciary, is that we put a name to it, and this would honour Colonel Sharpe for all the deeds that he did in Durham Region, Ontario County,” Chapman said. “But it also brings a personal touch to that courthouse. And in today’s environment of our soldiers and many others with mental health issues, the fact that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder I think is a fitting place for the courthouse to have a name after such an honourable gentleman.”
The motion passed through council with all councillors in favour. A letter from council will be sent to the Attorney General of Ontario – which has the authority to rename courthouses – voicing its approval.