The HVRA Laneway Naming Project

The HVRA Laneway Naming Project

October, 2012 Update

Wonderful news! All the lane names we chose, in spite of hiccups at the city, are proceeding unchanged. There have been three batches:

First batch:
approved early this year. The signs are either already up or will be shortly.
1: Loretto Lane
2: Galvao Lane
3: Sappers Lane
4: Greenberg Lane
5: Immergluck Lane

Second batch:
given final approval in September by Toronto and East York Community Council.

1. David French Lane
2. Alan Powell Lane
3. Albert Jackson Lane
4. Douglas Campbell Lane
5. Barker Fairley Lane
6. Boys of Major Lane
7. Barbara Godard Lane
8. William James Lane
9. Leah Cohen Lane
10. Barbara Barrett Lane
11: Bagpipe Lane

Third batch:
he names for these lanes had to be modified slightly from our original choices and will be given final approval in a few months’ time.

1. James Hales Lane
2. Lewis Family Lane
3. Antonio Fernandes Lane
4. Cyril Lane
5. Chapel Hospice Lane
6. Grimsby Dairy Lane
7. Katharine Hockin Lane

With Councillor Vaughan’s assistance and our persistence, we have prevailed! This project has captured the imaginations of not just you, the residents of Harbord Village, but also the media, relatives of those being honoured well beyond the borders of HV, and many politicians in the city, who see this project as an ideal consultation and a fine example of community building. Well done all!
Rory ‘Gus’ Sinclair,
Coordinator - Laneway Naming Project

Background:

In the summer of 2009, at a meeting with Police, The Bloor Annex BIA, Harbord Street BIA, ARA, and HVRA concerning a swarming incident at Bloor and Bathurst, talk moved towards things that could be done to make the jobs of the Police and Fire Departments easier with respect to assisting in our communities.

The Police described some barriers to quick response to reports from citizens concerning emergencies in their neighbourhoods — especially in back lanes. Without the lanes being named, there necessarily ensues some confusion as to exactly which lane requires attention.

For example, saying that the emergency is in the lane between Robert and Major south of Harbord is insufficient to get an accurate response, as that lane is not continuous. It is blocked for about 10 houses just south of where Ulster meets Major, before continuing on down to the lane behind the stores on College.

Several small and unofficial discussions were held on the subject of naming lanes with members of the community — both from within and without the Board — and the idea was met with much positive feed back. Preliminary discussions took place with the Councillor’s office, as well as with the appropriate city department.

It was also noted that the lanes in Cabbagetown had all recently been named, following several themes, including Canadian song birds and historical personages.

What became clear is that HVRA should hold a consultation in the community to approve the notion and to prescribe a way forward.

Next Steps

In the fall of 2010, all five areas in HV were consulted by doing walk-abouts of the lanes with the area reps and interested members of the community. What became clear is that all were interested in having the lanes named and the vast majority wanted them named for historical individuals who had lived in our community.

In the spring and summer of 2011, the full consultation took place with the membership and residents of HV both online and by hand written ballot — a copy of which was delivered to each home in HV. We had over 250 responses and some extraordinary suggestions.

The Consultation, the Jury, and results

A Jury was struck to decide amongst the many suggestions. The jury consisted of:

  • Bob Barnett, long time resident of HV and past president of the prior Residents’ Association - Sussex Ulster R A;

  • Margie Zeidler, long time resident and community activist;

  • Tim Grant, long time resident and active member of the community and

  • Neil Wright, President of the Harbord Street BIA, a man with compendious knowledge of our community and our history

City of Toronto Review

These naming recommendations now go the City Council for review.

Rory ‘Gus‘ Sinclair
Past Chair HVRA and Laneway Naming Project Co-ordinator