Chief William Commanda Bridge has been proposed as the new name of the former Prince of Wales Bridge in the Capital. William Commanda served as Chief of the Kitigàn-zìbì Anishinàbeg First Nation near Maniwaki, Quebec between 1951 and 1970.

Chief Commanda was known for using his traditional ways to help guide his community. He was a trapper, woodsman, craftsman and was known for his skill in making birch bark canoes which made him famous by the Ottawa River Algonquins.

With the reconstruction of the bridge, it provides the perfect opportunity to rename it after a well-respected elder. William Commanda died in 2011. “Following initial discussion with our Algonquin partners, I will be seeking your support to rename the Prince of Wales Bridge to the Chief William Commanda Bridge,” said Mayor Jim Watson in his State of the City Address on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, council also approved a plan to rename Langevin Avenue to Commanda Way.