Dave Stockdale is hoping common sense will prevail, but believes it's "in short supply” among his fellow council members when it comes to naming the new public safety building at the top of Two Mile Hill.

The veteran city councillor made the comments at Monday's council meeting. He was urging that the building to be named in honour of Fred Blaker, the city's first employee and first fire chief, after being presented with a recommendation by staff to name it the Whitehorse Public Safety Building.

"It's a no-brainer,” Stockdale said emphatically, pleading with his fellow councillors to choose the Fred Blaker Public Safety Building name instead.

He argued the name should reflect the community, and the Whitehorse Public Safety Building doesn't do that. It takes away from the colour of the community, he said.

"I don't like a neutral name,” Stockdale commented, as he went on to state a neutral name is like a "neutered name”.

Many in the community Stockdale has spoken to seem to think the choice of the Fred Blaker Public Safety Building is an obvious one.

Mayor Bev Buckway voiced her support for the Whitehorse Public Safety Building. By naming it after one person, she said, the city could run the risk of offending those whose names were not chosen.

Stockdale defended his stance, stating: "I'm not afraid of offending people.”

As Buckway pointed out, the hall of fame planned for the new building – which is set to house the bylaw and fire departments along with space for other services – will honour those past fire chiefs like Blaker.

Coun. Betty Irwin also noted her support for the Whitehorse Public Safety Building. While she said she could appreciate Stockdale's "impassioned” speech, the name she prefers says exactly what the building is.

Stockdale countered her argument by pointing out that his preferred name would also state the facility's use as a public safety building.

The two proposals were among nine the city received on the name.

The Sparks Building was one, named for current fire chief Clive Sparks.

Other names that came up in recognizing people included former fire chiefs Doug Row and Brian Monahan with a Facebook group now bearing 200 members created in support of Monahan. It was also suggested the new building be named for Flo Whyard, who was the city's mayor from 1981 to 1983.

Still others suggested the Takhini or Valleyview Public Safety Building, naming different parts of the building after fire chiefs and a variety of public safety names.

As planning manager Mike Gau noted in his report to council, the Whitehorse Public Safety Building helps reflect the multi-purpose use of the structure.

"It is also very difficult to choose a particular fire chief over others as each individual has made significant contributions to the safety of the city and its citizens,” notes the administrative report that came to council.

The hall of fame will honour many of those whose names were proposed for the building, the report adds.

The territory is also planning to build an emergency building below the Canada Games Centre that has yet to be formally named, though it has been referred to as the Whitehorse Integrated Emergency Response facility.

"The Yukon government is only in the planning and design stages for this building and will need to take into consideration the final name of the Public Safety Building when it decides a name,” the report reads.

Council will vote on first and second readings of the bylaw for the name next week, with third reading and adoption expected Feb. 8.