The Degrading Designation

 

 

Phillip Hong
January 17, 2010

 

The Region of York has proven that it doesn't have a creative enough imagination, and the issue of civic participation will only be emphasized thanks to the intentions of our officials and politicians.

 

"Avenue 7 is the preferred option and councillors rejected the idea of having a renaming contest..."

 

Vaughan Citizen, January 14, 2010

 

Highway 7, the region's second most important arterial road if not the first, was downloaded from the former Ontario government led by Premier Mike Harris in 1997. And since this action was taken, urban growth has turned this piece of asphalt into much more than just a former provincial designation.

 

A decade after Highway 7 was given to regional government hands, it was reported that Vaughan and Markham councils had approved motions to encourage a renaming, most likely "Avenue 7". It was also reported that regional council had attributed this new name to media reports that constantly mention the proposed action.

 

This kind of proves that our mid-level public servants have such a bland taste when it comes to names. My hometown of Brampton is home to Highway 10, another "downloaded" former provincial highway, and this road sports the traditional names of "Main Street" and "Hurontario Street".

 

The Town of Markham has streets like "14th Avenue" and "16th Avenue". "Avenue 7" just sounds like a poor idea when it comes to grammar if you look at a potential map.

 

Don't we have historical figures to think of as an inspiration? Woodbridge could call its section "Burrwick Street" as this was the former town name.

 

Brampton has "Peter Robertson Boulevard" while Markham has "Donald Cousens Parkway", both to honour former mayors. We already have a "Lorna Jackson Public School" and Vaughan's new city hall will be named after the former mayor, so why not "Jackson Street"? To a lesser extent, how about "(Michael) Di Biase Street"?

 

Hold on; there's a Jackson Street in Maple.

 

But what does this have to do with public input? The region has asked for comments and opinions, but they are not open to renaming suggestions.

 

Who agreed to this name change? Avenue 7 was the name favoured by councils and newspapers, but were we given a referendum on the issue? Were any residents, from the more than half a million who live in Southern York Region, part of this almost final decision?

 

At most, a couple of hundred people have probably voiced their opinion in the process, and I mean civic politicians, York Regional Council and members of the media.

 

A couple hundred people, proposing to spend a couple hundred thousand dollars to change the name of one road.

 

No wonder most Vaughan residents didn't vote in the last municipal election

 

Phillip Hong, a resident within suburban Toronto, is a constant tourist. Check out the interesting experiences of his journeys on The Travelling Briefcase.