Winnipeg park could be named after Malala Yousafzai, Nobel-winning activist

Two Winnipeg councillors are hoping to get a park in the city's St. Vital area named after Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager and co-winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize.

St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes says he and St. Norbert Coun. Janice Lukes will put forward a motion this fall to name the new park "Malala Park" in Yousafzai's honour.

The one-hectare park is located on Paddington Road south of Aldgate Road in St. Vital.

Yousafzai is known around the world for her fight for the rights of women and girls to go to school.

She was the target of Taliban assassins after she became an outspoken advocate for her right to attend class and she's since gone on to become an international spokesperson on the issue.

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In addition to being named the co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, she received an honorary Canadian citizenship. As well, her story is shown at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.

"This park will be used by many families and young children in the new south of Aldgate area, and we wanted to celebrate the efforts made for the education of young girls by Malala," Lukes said in a news release Thursday.

Mayes said he and Lukes have been working with the Pakistan Canada Business Association of Manitoba on the park naming request.

"The Pakistani community in St. Vital has a strong presence and it made this part of the city the right location for honouring Ms. Yousafzai and her work," Mayes said.

The councillors' motion will be presented at the Sept. 14 meeting of the Riel Community Committee. If it's approved, the park naming request would then go to the city's protection and community services committee later that month.