Winnipeg councillors and the Pakistani community plan to name a park in the city after Malala Yousafzai, the 18-year-old human rights advocate who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
Two members of the Pakistan Business Association approached St. Vital councillor Brian Mayes to name a public space after a Pakistani figure, and after a few years of planning, a place and name was chosen.
Malala Park would be near the southern end of Paddington Road in River Park South.
Mayes says it's appropriate that it's a children's park, given that Yousafzai stood up for education rights for girls in her country.
Anis Khan with the Pakistani Business Association hopes the park, which will need to be approved by city council at a vote in mid-September, will inspire youth and spread word of Yousafzai’s story.
Yousafzai has sent a video message thanking Winnipeg, city council and the Pakistan Business Association.
“I’m hopeful that we will be able to bring change in society, but we can do that when we come together. Thank you so much,” Yousafzai said her in message.
She also said it was a great honour to have a park in Canada named for her.
Yousafzai began pushing for girls’ right to education in her homeland as a pre-teen, pushing back against a Taliban ban on females attending school. When she was 15, she was shot in the head by the Taliban for her activism.
A United Nations envoy launched a petition in her name that helped lead to the ratification of Pakistan's first Right to Education Bill.
“It’s a great recognition of the lady’s courage and also the cause. And the cause is very noble,” said Abar Hussain Hashmi, Pakistan’s high commissioner.
Yousafzai has received many international honours, and was made an honorary citizen by the Government of Canada.
