Montreal municipal councilors Marvin Rotrand and Michael Applebaum have launched a petition to have something renamed in Montreal to honour author Mordecai Richler, but what exactly that should be remains up for debate.
The petition has gathered 600 signatures in only two days so far, well short of the 2,000 Rotrand has set as a minimum to show his colleagues at city hall this is a worthwhile project.
Time is somewhat of an issue here because Rotrand would like the whole thing settled and ready to go in time for the 10th anniversary of Richler's death on July 3, 2011.
But the question is, what should be re-named for the two-time Governor General's Award winner?
His widow Florence Richler says simply having her husband's name displayed in the Plateau neighbourhood he made famous through his writings would be a tremendous honour.
"If it were somewhere on St-Urbain street that his name would be prominent," she told CTV Montreal's Catherine Sheriffs, "that would be lovely."
Of course, Richler is not suggesting re-naming the street after her late husband.
Ideas like that can cause quite an uproar in this city.
An idea to re-name Parc Ave after former premier Robert Bourassa was actually approved by city hall, only to see the city backtrack after merchants and area residents screamed their outrage.
The Mayor more or less said years ago that we have to find new names, un-named parks, un-named streets, something else that highlights a contribution to our collective life," Rotrand said.
People in the Mile End neighbourhood so close to Richler's heart want to see something in that part of town to recognize Richler's contributions.
"I'm in favor of a monument to be placed at the park," said Ruth Wilensky of the famous Wilensky's Restaurant on Fairmount.
But not everyone thinks Richler deserves that honour.
One sovereignist group points to Richler's criticism of Quebec nationalists as a reason why.
Mario Beaulieu, of the Mouvement Montreal Francais, says some of Richler's writing was racist and anti-Quebecois.
