A federal board is reviewing posthumous honours for Alexander Graham Bell, who died over 100 years ago, due to his “controversial beliefs,” according to records. Designation of Canadian landmarks like the Halifax Citadel and Crowsnest Pass are also up for review under a cabinet policy against “colonialism, patriarchy and racism.”.The Historic Sites and Monuments Board said Bell’s designation was being reviewed under a broad category of “controversial beliefs and behaviour.” It defined the reference as “views, actions and activities condemned by today’s society.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, Bell’s Brantford, Ont. homestead was designated a national historic site in 1934. A park near his Baddeck, N.S. summer home was designated in 1959 and Bell himself in 1977 was honoured as a “national historic person.” The House of Commons as late as 2002 unanimously passed a motion sponsored by then-Liberal MP Sheila Copps (Hamilton East, Ont.) that celebrated Bell as inventor of the telephone..The Monuments Board did not explain what “controversial beliefs” Bell held. The inventor in an 1883 essay Memoir Upon Formation Of A Deaf Variety Of The Human Race opposed marriage between deaf couples. He also opposed sign language and encouraged the deaf to assimilate by reading lips. Both Bell’s mother and wife were hearing impaired..A CBC radio episode claimed Bell's support of the "oralism" movement resulted in "deep trauma" for the hearing impaired..Cabinet in 2019 issued a Framework For History And Commemoration that mandated a “careful review of existing designations and plaque texts” issued by the Monuments Board since 1919. Of some 2,200 designations a total 208 have been blacklisted for review including Bell’s..The Monuments Board said it was checking historic plaques for “outdated or offensive terms or word choices” and “an absence of a significant layer of history most frequently associated with the exclusion of Indigenous peoples.”.“In Canadian history colonialism, patriarchy and racism are examples of ideologies and structures that have profound legacies,” said Framework. “There is a need to be cognizant of, and to confront, these legacies. This contributes to the ongoing process of truth-telling and reconciliation.”.The Monuments Board blacklist named John A. Macdonald among “national historic persons” also under review due to “colonial assumptions.” Others cited for “controversial beliefs” included explorer Jacques Cartier, suffragette Louise McKinney and political activist James S. Woodsworth, founding leader of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation..Numerous landmarks are under review for “colonial assumptions.” The Board explained the reference was to designations “from an overly European perspective” including the Halifax Citadel, Crowsnest Pass, Alberta’s Bar U Ranch, Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park and a 1924 designation marking “discovery of Prince Edward Island.”.The Monuments Board’s 1948 commemoration of provincehood for British Columbia and Manitoba was also uner review due to “colonial assumptions,” as well as a 1969 plaque marking the discovery of the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories..A total 24 historic forts are under review for “colonial assumptions.” The blacklist includes Fort Steele in British Columbia, Fort Whoop-Up in Alberta, Fort Qu’Appelle in Saskatchewan, Fort La Reine in Manitoba, Fort Malden in Ontario, Fort Laprairie in Québec, Fort Howe in New Brunswick and Fort Edward in Nova Scotia.
