City Of Hamilton To Introduce Walkway Of Fame
The City of Hamilton will introduce a Walkway of Fame which will stretch the length of Court Street from Front Street through to Angle Street and honour people who have made contributions to Bermuda.
Mayor of Hamilton Graeme Outerbridge said, “The objective of the Walkway of Fame is to honour people who have made contributions to Bermuda. The Walkway of Fame will stretch the length of Court Street from Front Street through to Angle Street.
“It is hoped that this tribute will encourage people who historically may not travel through Court Street to do so. We want residents and visitors alike to experience the entire city, especially parts of our city that have been underserved in the past.
“As part of the process, the Organizing Committee met with business owners and residents in the Court Street area to share the project with them first and to get their comments, thoughts and feedback. We have been able to incorporate a number of ideas into the process.
“I am encouraging everyone to think about who they would like to see honored on the walkway. The person could have lived, worked and contributed to the development of their community anywhere in Bermuda. The criterion is simply stated: Individuals, groups or associations who have positively impacted the lives of people in Bermuda through their professional or volunteer work and must have lived in Bermuda.
Anyone who has been acknowledged as a National Hero will automatically be put onto the Walkway of Fame list. The timeframe is not limited.” Mayor Outerbridge continued, “A Selection Committee has been created to identify the five people who will be honored this year.
“The Selection Committee comprises: Mr. Leo Mills, Mr. Roger Sherratt, Ms. Ally Lusher, Mr. Milton Raposo and Mrs. Laquita [Kita] Hill. The finalists will be honored with a plaque that will be installed in the sidewalks along Court Street. It is our anticipation that new honorees will be identified and added annually.”
There are two options to make a nomination. The application form can be downloaded from the City of Hamilton website [PDF here] or collected from the administration offices in City Hall. The forms can be returned to City Hall or emailed to communications@cityhall.bm.
The city will host two in-person nomination opportunities, both will be held at the Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall on the following dates:
- Monday, May 20, 2013 – 10am – 12noon
- Saturday, June 5, 2013 – 5:30pm – 7:30pm
All submissions will be treated with the strictest confidence and must be sent in by June 7, 2013 at 5:00pm.
The Mayor added, “The names of this year’s honorees will be revealed during an unveiling ceremony at the end of October. I encourage everyone in Bermuda to think of individuals or organizations who have contributed to the development and care of their immediate community, parish or to Bermuda in general. This is an opportunity to say thank you to those who made a difference to the lives of the people around them.
“I must thank the organizing committee. They have put a lot of time into the planning of the Walkway of Fame and have done an excellent job to get us to this point.”
Organizing committee members:
- Mrs. Ronnie Chameau
- Ms. Ellen Hollis
- Ms. Lydia Simmons
- Mrs. Louise Tannock
- Mrs. Aderonke Bademosi Wilson
you’re kidding, right?
Mayor,
Just because ____ is in L A, does not mean we change Bermuda to follow suit.
Dumbest idea I have ever heard; try to send tourists to backaton….uncomfortable enough for, dare I say it, white Bermudians.
We want people to return to Bermuda…give them something to remember.
Signed,
Family
I am in no way against honouring those who have made a contribution to Bermuda, but must it be done in such a distasteful way? A display at City Hall, a programme on CITV/ZBM or presentations in schools could be a more effective way to enlighten Bermudians on our National Heroes. This is not Los Angeles and having s permanent fixture in the sidewalks will not cause people to return to Court Street again and again.
Does Dame LBE get three stars?
Any sort of walkway needs to be Bermudianized before the idea carries on. If Bermuda is truly another world, there is no need to copy the signature sites of other jurisdictions and make a smaller version here. I mean there are few Bermudians that are world reknown outside of Bermuda. Let’s not plan for failure but think of something that is truly remarkable and a talking piece for visitors and locals to see!
Graeme’s never had an original idea. Copy, copy, copy.
Ladies on the selection Committee, you have totally missed a golden opportunity. Please Mayor O, take a step back before you spend Corporation $ on this oversimplistic scheme. Partner with Tourism and Cultural Affairs to create a vision and talking piece that the entire community can relate too. Vivid murals throughout the city is a better vibe. A walk of fame is (yawn) so boring and outdated, was anyone under 35 on this committee! Even the one in LA disappoints people when they arrive. Please don’t waste your money and backtrack!
And why would a tourist care about Joe Schmoes name,who they’ve never heard of, on the sidewalk?
I agree. With Hollywood, at least those names are world reknown, and it makes sense for their spend as it is an international attraction. Think about it, not even NYC have a walkway of fame. Bermudians have not made a dent let alone a pinhole impression in the world of fame, their own countrymen see this as being wasteful, and no, thus will not encourage tourism either. So why do it. CoH, I would recommend you take a step back and put your ‘creative thinking’ to better use.
*reknown is not a word.
You’re thining of “renowned”
*thinking haha.
I get asked who the hell LFWade is all the time. Telling them that he was a leader of an opposition party gets me a lot of “huh?” reactions.
I agree that’s like LF Wade International airport,no one has a clue where your talking about. When you say Bermuda International airport the name speaks for itself
It should be Shaun Goater Airport
I fully agree…. to name your international airport after a politician (without any public consultation I should add!!) who failed to make it to the top of Bermuda’s leadership is a sad reflection on the achievements of all Bermudians.
I fully agree…. to name your international airport after a politician (without any public consultation I should add!!) who failed to make it to the top of Bermuda’s leadership is a sad reflection on the achievements of all Bermudians.
“….which will stretch the length of Court Street from Front Street through to Angle Street”. Not sure that is enough space for one or two that I do not care to name!!!
On a more positive note, this would appear to be a better idea than ‘Heros Day’, which appears to be an idea ‘borrowed’ from Jamaica!!!
Really!?! Does the corporation not have anything better to do with their time? And court street of all places!?! Drug dealers and prostitutes will no longer be fighing over street corners. “Hey, you ! get off of my star!”
WOW….
you can find drug dealers and prostitutes anywhere not just court street. though i dont agree with this idea i can see the effort being put in to rid people of the mindset that you have…GROW UP
You know your thisss close to being retarded right!?? Smh
If the Mayor, CoH or anyone else for that matter want to highlight contributions by individuals to Bermuda’s heritage then create a permanant exhibition somewhere, most suitably the City Hall and certainly not on any high street in Hamilton.
The City Hall has may visitors and locals alike so it would be better situated there for all to see, if they so desire.
It’s of poor taste and quite frankly not much of a tribute to anyone who may be represented.
BTW Mayor Outerbridge just a thought but shouldn’t your immediate attention be overseeing such much needed projects like asphalting some of the horrendous roads in the city and the increasing amounts of litter not to mention the lack of available seating in Victoria Park during the day due to vagrants so readily occupying them on a daily basis.
Clean up the city first before spending what little taxpayers dollars you have on “Bermuda’s Walk of Fame” !!!!
I agree with @Tickled – after driving along Reid Street this morning and thinking it would be nice to repave the roads instead of extending the corners(and what was the reason for that ?)- and then having to check to make sure my dentures hadn’t been shaken out, I picked up the paper and saw this – unbelievable – please please please fix what needs to be fixed then worry about the little things.
If you really took a look at why the corners were done,it was done for those that are in wheel chairs and making it easier for the handicap to get on and off our sidewalks,all you need to do is take a walk inthose areas and go to the new stop lights and you would also see how the new stop lights have buttons on them that cater to those sitting in a wheel chair.
The corporation is fixing things that are long over due and the city is in a better position now then when it was under the previous administration
Agreed, making transport on sidewalks universal was a high priority.
Agreed.
Dumb idea Outerbridge. I thought we had gotten rid of this sort of masturbatory congratulations along with the PLP.
You know we are so ready to share our thoughts that come straight off the top of our heads,but in reality I think it is a fitting gesture.most of our national hero’s would be reconised from every spectrum but I would think the majority would be black Bermudians whose family ties go deep into other cultures across the carribean and other places.
When we look back through the corridors of time it is the town area and back of town,marsh folly,government gate,friswells hill,St.Monica’s mission areas that are most well known in our history after our land was basically taken from us in Tuckers town that would be the most historic.so most people when they think of the struggle of the past and those that really had to struggle and make life better for us in this day and age,I think the black community would win hands down.
So would putting such a idea along front,reid,church or victoria street work.of course not because most used court street as a place of identity
Even during the riots Court street was the place most highlighted.needless to say many will take these comment wrong and as racial but that shows how far we have not come and to be able to reconized the footsteps of those who paved the way is a good thing.
I think having a boardwalk from Front Street all the way along court street along the same side of the road as the Dame Lois Browne evans court building would be appropriate and if need be use the other side of the road and the same length as time goes on.There are three Bermudians that come to mind that greatly impacted by life and i would be glad to name them,as they did so much in their adult life for Bermuda and its residence alike,both locals,guest workers and vistors.
Rev. Dr. Goodwin C.Smith:
Who was not just a Pastor of a local congretgation based in Hamilton,but also a leader within our community and sat on many Government boards.He was community based and always pounded the pavement on behalf of those who were less fortunate and segments of the community that was overlooked by a government that was bias in many ways to the needs of the working class people.many congradulatories can be attatched to his name for his life achievements as acommunity activist,political strategist,government advisor under the U.B.P Government,sitting member of the judicial review board,family court.the list goes on and on.
Rev.Charles Foster Fubler:
Who was a Bishop who was in his own right a force to be recond with as he stood firm on principles that helped mold our society in ways that we still have evidence of his good deeds amongst us today.he sat shoulder to shoulder with elected officials and challenged the core of our society.he was faithful in standing for justice whenever injustice reared its ugly head.he challenge the white churches to accept the plight of the blacks in their congretgations who most Anglican Churches at that time could only sit in the back rows of the church,should the church become full,blacks would have to stand and give up their seats but this is a part of Bermuda history we have not been taught.
Finally Mrs Sherlock from Horshoe road in Southampton would be my greatest hero who I got to grow up under in our neighborhood,Mrs Sherlock was a woman who would work in the hospitality industry and give so much to our tourist in way of Bermudian hospitality.you would think she was hired as an ambassador but she was a maid.she would always have treats for the guest and a christian trac telling them about salvation and the Lord Jesus,she was one of the first Christians I would see going door to door long before the Jehovah witness began doing it.she would go to work and never be late but just as committed as she was to her job,she was to the ministry of missions that God placed within her,she would be at the K.E.H.M and the extended care unit every single day and this was long before Elder Malcolm Eve and Mr Simmons began doin the same thing.Mother Sherlock was Bermuda’s Mother Theresa and never went about looking for fame or fortune but touched Bermudians both young and old in ways that her enternal reward is far greater then a plague on a side walk but well desrving for many to see even for the accomplishments she made.
This may be a long blog but history is something you cant disrepsect and one more person I would like to see on the walkway is a gentleman who touched the lives of many.please forgive me if I get the first name wrong.
Mr. Gladwin Ingham:
who was a hotel worker at the Southampton princess whose life was cut short during his acts of kindness and bravery,during the riots after Buck and Larry were hung,a fire was set at the hotel trying to get at the hangman who was believed to be staying at the hotel and during the course of the balze Mr Ingham risked his life going back and forward to remove guest from the floor where guest were trapped and in the end,he himself lost his own life while saving others and I remember as a young child Mother Sherlock walking from house to house in Sunny Side Park Southampton comforting all the residence while the focus was on court street and the fires there,we in our small community were in shock and grief over the loss our a husband,father,brother,uncle and friend.Mr Gladwin Ingham. The Princess hotel gave reconittion to the efforts of Mr Ingham but I believe his life would be better remembered if he became a permanent fixture in history and our schools should be made to take the walk of fame at different points in the school year to not just read about these individuals but walk on a boardwalk that gives them the pride to identify their legacy.
Maybe Bernews can past this along to the corporation and I will make the effort to do the same.
“I would think the majority would be black Bermudians”
Nice…
First rule: No religious people. Second Rule: no Politicians Third Rule: No living person Fourth Rule: people have to pay for their own or raise the money to pay for their own
How do you get rule four to to work if you enforce rule three… I guess only Zombies can get stars
Duane, leave the horrible racism alone. Why would they be black Bermudians. My family has Been here 300 years, but does my pinky face make me less Bermudian than you, or any less worthy? Of course not. Nice ideas then you had to spoil it.
True DAT!
I think the first person honored by the walk of fame should be Santa Claus.
You can’t be serious! Surely the cash strapped COH has much more pressing issues to finance than a self serving Bermuda version of a Hollywood walk of fame.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Is this all the new Corporation members can come up with? Jeez, first they rename the theatre and then they create a Walk of Fame and they want to be paid for the privilege of coming up with these winners????? In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re in an economic crisis guys, spend the money on fixing the roads and clean up the city if you want to make tourists and locals alike visit. This is kindergarten stuff and should be embarrassing to anyone who voted you in.
agree. Also, never understood why all waterfront in Hamilton is used for car parks. What a wasted opportunity.
HEY MR MAYOR – FIX THE ROADS FIRST!!!!!!
I sent an e-mail complaint via the contact us section on the CoH web site re the exact same thing plus a few more. Really dont expect a reply from them as I am sure they have deleted it. The idea isnt bad but the execution is far from sensible not a sidewalk but how about in the Mayors and Deputy Mayors office walls. At least that way the offices would be used and not just “occupied with the need to have a large wage” for doing NOTHING for the city.
And the CoH want a RAISE for this idea? Give me a big fat break.
As usual, you want my my ideas and tell me their not good enough and than take it like its brand new lol. You’re not getting one idea from me. Never!
The very first name on that should be sir george sommers because without him no one else would be here, that speak english anyway Or is he to light?
now don’t get the plp people started on the race card hahaha
if memory serves me well, didn’t we have Dame Lois for THREE YEARS IN A ROW for National Heros day because there was no one else to nominate?
Apart from some TRUELY WONDERFUL BERMUDIANS that could and should be included in say National Heros Day, the Walk of Fame will include who actually?
I can see it now – Legends in their own minds – DREB, da Kernel, Rolf,Zany Boy, and so it goes on………………the walk will not be long enough!!!
Good luck with this nonsense! When IS SOMEONE going to do SOMETHING about the totally usesless brain challenged COH?
The very first plaque should be for Santa Claus. At least that way, if he can’t afford the $2,000 for a whole parade he can stand on his own plaque and greet the children.
OMG what next. The CofH mayor is a total waste of time, money, energy , etc, etc, get rid of him.
Why do we always feel the need to copy someone else. Let’s be original Bermuda. Do you really think this idea is going to get more tourists here?
An extremely trite idea and one with almost zero appeal for visitors. Locals are better served already by National Heroes Day and the walking tours of North Hamilton put on by Cultural Affairs.
A better idea would be blue plaques on buildings or in neibourhoods or streets where significant people lived or where significant events/ eras took place etc like they have in other countries. That way locals and tourists alike could explore and learn about neighborhoods maybe using a map put out by CoH. The map could tie into the fabulous statues in the City as well, touching on Sally Bassett, the Enterprise, The Theatre Boycott, etc.
The whole North Hamilton area is rich in the history of the evryday lives of neighbourhoods, the history of labour and the history of politics. Why not more statues as focal points? The corporation could spearhead fundraising for one or more. What about a statue of WHT Joell the first black man elected to the House of Assembly?
Why not have the BIU sponsor a statue at UNion Square? Maybe one of Rev Charles Vinton Monk who tried to remedy the plight of the West Indian workers at Dockyard?
This would have much stronger impact than some thing in the pavement which will literally be lost under our feet.
CoH members have to start thinking more like statesmen and less like small town fish in a small town pond.
I don’t have a problem with honouring Bermudians who have made major contributions to our island but I can’t see this as being a good way to accomplish that, and I can’t imagine that it would encourage people who would not normally go to Court Street to do so.
I can’t say that I’ve ever understood Hollywood’s walk of stars, but there at least you could put your own feet in those of the stars. Here all you’d be able to do is acknowledge that you just stepped on a national hero.
Again, CoH makes a poor choice.
Walkway of Fame??? What a stupid idea!
The Mayor and his colleagues should take a walk, and a drive around the City once a week. They will certainly find more pressing matters that require their attention —immediately!
By now Outerbridge & posse must be hiding in their offices wishing they has never opened their silly mouths.
Wonder who had the absurd idea in the first place?
Yikes!
No wonder tourism is down, the ticket agents , have no idea Where Wade airport is.
“Sorry, Bermuda doesnt seem to have an airport.”
“try The ‘ super ,Mega , Delux Ocean liners’ sign down the street …”
That, Tearing out the fountain,
chucking up a tent, and scribbling BS on a sidewalk ..
is sure to provide years of comic relief to the youth who want to know where their money went….
Another incredibly stupid idea from an incredibly stupid Corporation, they sure can find ways of spending money that has no benefit whatsoever to the Hamilton taxpayers or the people who come to Hamilton, while I realize the mayor and most of his top ” experts” have never really had a real job surely we can get better value for our money, stupid sidewalk work that seems to get done over and over again, dissapearing loading zones, traffic light that are never in sync, trash removal trucks at rush hour, constantly digging up the streets, road closures for extended time periods, disrespect and autocratic approach to those people who pay their salaries, and lets not talk about the dozens of issues caused by the bus terminal having been shoe horned into Washington Street, waterfront and other back room deals, and the list goes on unfortunatly the other choice being Works and Enginering running the town doesn’t bear to be thought of, but it seriously needs to be changed at city hall, these clowns have had there day.