Toronto councillors vote to rename Dundas St.
'This is an important moment'
Author of the article:Kevin Connor
Publishing date:Jul 15, 2021 • 5 hours ago • 2 minute read • 349 Comments
A street sign for Dundas St. W. in Toronto, Ont. on Wednesday June 10, 2020.
A street sign for Dundas St. W. in Toronto, Ont. on Wednesday June 10, 2020. PHOTO BY ERNEST DOROSZUK /Toronto Sun
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Toronto City Council voted on Wednesday in favour of renaming Dundas St. and now faces the task of coming up with a new name.
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Henry Dundas was a Scottish politician who played a role in delaying the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in the late 1700s.
The name Dundas is hurtful to the Black and Indigenous population in the city, council has heard.
Dundas doesn’t deserve the recognition, said Mayor John Tory.
“We are at a moment in time in history to show leadership,” Tory said.
“This is an important moment … to take away the pain. You can never go wrong doing the right thing.”
City staff consulted with 25 Black and Indigenous community leaders as well as BIAs and now are planning the next steps for a public process to rename the street.
Dundas has 90,000 addresses on the street with 4,500 businesses and 60 of those carry the name Dundas.
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City manager Chis Murray says businesses with Dundas in the name won’t be required to change that.
In the fall, the city will reach out to all Torontonians who were to be involved in the name change and provide information on how they can participate.
There are 60 other streets where the city is reviewing if their name should be changed.
There were 14,00 names on the petition that got the ball rolling to rename Dundas, where 97,000 residents live.
Coun. Stephen Holyday unsuccessfully urged council to send the issue back to the city manager to seek more options because he worried about the precedent that would be set by renaming the street.
“Not enough people were consulted. Some effort has to be made to consult them,” Holyday said.
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A street sign for Dundas St. W. in Toronto, Ont. on Wednesday June 10, 2020.
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BRAUN: What's in a name? Negative associations, if it's Henry Dundas
A street sign for Dundas St. W. in Toronto, Ont. on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Henry Dundas opposed the abolition efforts of people like William Wilberforce in the British Parliament. Should the street be renamed?
Tory's executive committee takes next step to renaming Dundas St.
The city estimates it will cost between $5 million and $6 million to change street signs and other city properties with the name Dundas.
'This is an important moment'
Author of the article:Kevin Connor
Publishing date:Jul 15, 2021 • 5 hours ago • 2 minute read • 349 Comments
A street sign for Dundas St. W. in Toronto, Ont. on Wednesday June 10, 2020.
A street sign for Dundas St. W. in Toronto, Ont. on Wednesday June 10, 2020. PHOTO BY ERNEST DOROSZUK /Toronto Sun
Article content
Toronto City Council voted on Wednesday in favour of renaming Dundas St. and now faces the task of coming up with a new name.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
Henry Dundas was a Scottish politician who played a role in delaying the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in the late 1700s.
The name Dundas is hurtful to the Black and Indigenous population in the city, council has heard.
Dundas doesn’t deserve the recognition, said Mayor John Tory.
“We are at a moment in time in history to show leadership,” Tory said.
“This is an important moment … to take away the pain. You can never go wrong doing the right thing.”
City staff consulted with 25 Black and Indigenous community leaders as well as BIAs and now are planning the next steps for a public process to rename the street.
Dundas has 90,000 addresses on the street with 4,500 businesses and 60 of those carry the name Dundas.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
City manager Chis Murray says businesses with Dundas in the name won’t be required to change that.
In the fall, the city will reach out to all Torontonians who were to be involved in the name change and provide information on how they can participate.
There are 60 other streets where the city is reviewing if their name should be changed.
There were 14,00 names on the petition that got the ball rolling to rename Dundas, where 97,000 residents live.
Coun. Stephen Holyday unsuccessfully urged council to send the issue back to the city manager to seek more options because he worried about the precedent that would be set by renaming the street.
“Not enough people were consulted. Some effort has to be made to consult them,” Holyday said.
A street sign for Dundas St. W. in Toronto, Ont. on Wednesday June 10, 2020.
LEVY: Is Dundas St. to become the new Woke Way?
Sir Henry Dundas
BRAUN: What's in a name? Negative associations, if it's Henry Dundas
A street sign for Dundas St. W. in Toronto, Ont. on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Henry Dundas opposed the abolition efforts of people like William Wilberforce in the British Parliament. Should the street be renamed?
Tory's executive committee takes next step to renaming Dundas St.
The city estimates it will cost between $5 million and $6 million to change street signs and other city properties with the name Dundas.
Toronto councillors vote to rename Dundas St.
Toronto City Council has voted in favour of renaming Dundas St. and now faces the task of coming up with a new name.
torontosun.com