- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

For those who are looking with interest at the tradition of bridge plaques and dedications in Owen Sound, we're providing a little background.

The 8th Street bridge was last reconstructed in 1996, and the plaque above was installed. Eleven years later, as part of Owen Sound's 150th celebrations, the bridge was dedicated Veterans Memorial Bridge.

The 9th Street bridge was rebuilt in 2010. We assume there is a plaque somewhere under that snow, as the wording was approved by council. The bridge was not dedicated as Tom Thomson Bridge until 2013, and the plaque above was installed.

The Jubilee Bridge information is all contained on the plaque itself, and we've provided the text here.

In discussion about the newly-constructed bridge over the Sydenham at 10th Street, it would seem that the official, political plaque could be installed at any time. A plaque containing history, explanation and context for the dedication as the Gitche Namewikwedong bridge would seem to be more appropriate for the scheduled dedication day, June 21st, National Indigenous Peoples Day, even if all we could unveil was the artist's rendering.