Oscar vs. Lionel

Abbé Lionel Groulx and Oscar Peterson came from entirely different backgrounds and their lives took very different paths — but now their names have come together through the efforts of a grassroots movement to rename the Lionel-Groulx metro station in honour of the late piano virtuoso.

The logic is difficult to refute: Mr. Peterson grew up in a neighbourhood not far from the station, while Abbé Groulx probably never ventured down past the tracks. Mr. Peterson was world-famous — a true local hero who cast such a formidable shadow that no history of Victoria Hall is complete without the proud boast that he regularly played on its stage back in the 1940s. On the other hand, Abbé Groulx is virtually unknown outside of the province's dusty old history books.

Last year, the City of Montreal was anxious to rename Park Avenue in honour of the late Robert Bourassa — so much so that it tried pushing through the required legislation without adequately consulting local residents and taxpayers. City officials paid dearly for that embarrassing faux pas, and have since been reluctant to pursue any more issues of toponymy.

The big loser in that controversy was the memory of Mr. Bourassa, whose otherwise good name was unnecessarily tarnished by those opposed to the change. The same could happen to Mr. Peterson if the matter heats up and things get ugly — as they often do in these cases.

Mr. Peterson was a beloved musician who stayed well away from the political fray of his home province. As a jazzman, he fully espoused the all-inclusive, racial and linguistic melting pot that has defined his art form from the beginning.

Yes, Oscar Peterson deserves to have a major metro station named after him. In fact, he should be honoured in an even bigger and better way — and probably will. But if the issue is going to raise a major stink by outspoken Quebec nationalists who venerate Abbé Groulx's memory, it's probably not worth pursuing.

Let them keep their metro station name. The memory of a great man is too important to risk being sullied by yet another of the petty controversies that plague Quebec society.