Deloraine struggles over what to do with Nygard Park

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This article was published 21/02/2020 (1726 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — Allegations of sexual abuse against fashion mogul Peter Nygard have shaken the small southwestern Manitoba community of Deloraine.

A park in Deloraine, approximately 115 kilometres southwest of Brandon, is named after Nygard due to his family’s connection with the community.

Municipality of Deloraine-Winchester Reeve Gord Weidenhamer said Friday the community is now wrestling with what to do about the negative publicity surrounding its most famous former resident.

“We’ve had people contact us — contact councillors, contact the office,” Weidenhamer said. “Obviously, with the history of Nygard Park and family back in the ’50s, where do we stand with some of these issues?”

Nygard moved to Deloraine from Finland with his father, a baker, and his mother in 1952. The family later moved to Winnipeg, where Nygard founded clothing maker Nygard International in 1967.

A dedication ceremony for the park took place in 2002, where Nygard spoke about his many fond memories of Deloraine and its people.

A class-action lawsuit filed in New York City last week alleges the 78-year-old Nygard lured women and girls to his estate in the Bahamas so he could assault and rape them.

Weidenhamer noted the park is home to a display of flags of the world, which helps draw tourists to the community with a population of less than 1,000 people. It’s also used for local fashion shows.

Deloraine-Winchester council will discuss the park name issue at its regular meeting next week.

— Brandon Sun