Residents on several Stittsville streets received letters today with options for new road names.
The City of Ottawa said back in January that six streets (Bell Street, Goulbourn Street, Elm Crescent, Long Meadow Way, Meadowland Drive, and Walker Road) need to be renamed because they sound too much like other streets in Ottawa.
Pizza deliveries and ambulance drivers keep getting mixed up, so after more than 15 years after amalgamation, the City figures it’s time to clear up the confusion.
Letters were hand-delivered delivered today and several residents shared them with StittsvilleCentral.ca.
“We invite you to choose from two suggested replacement names, which have been screened and meet the required criteria. These names relate to the existing nature theme that is currently present in the area,” said the letter, signed by Rebecca Anderson of the City’s building code services branch.
UPDATE, JUNE 28: City extends street naming process to August 12
UPDATE, JUNE 27: Here’s how the City evaluated over 200 suggestions to come up with the shortlist.
Here’s a partial list of the options. Residents have been asked to email the City before June 30 with their preferred name.
ELM CRESCENT:
- Mitig Crescent – means tree in the Algonquin language
- Sugar Shack Crescent – a reference to a Canadian tradition meaning a building where sap from a sugar bush is boiled down to make maple syrup
LONG MEADOW WAY:
- Bromia Way – scientific name for the Northern Blue Jay
- Campground Way – the area was the former sight of a Methodist children’s camp
- Foliage Way – general reference to Canadian flora
- Outcrops Way – several glacially scoured outcrops of Precambrian gneiss are exposed in the area
- Pibòn Way – (note the accent on the “o”) means winter in the Algonquin language
MEADOWLAND DRIVE:
- Groundhog Way – Native Canadian Fauna
- Moose Way – Native Canadian Fauna
- Plantain Way – Native Canadian Flora
BELL STREET:
- Bobcat Way – Native Canadian Fauna
- Wabigon Way – means flower in the Algonquin language
GOULBOURN STREET:
- Boxty Way – Irish dish
- Kitizi Way – means notable person or elder in the Algonquin language
Meanwhile, WALKER ROAD is being renamed Henry Walker Road. No vote required.
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I spoke this evening with Phil Rocco from Long Meadow Way who called the names “ridiculous and unnecessary”. Many of the peopl eon his street signed a petition earlier this year telling the city not to change their street’s name.
He also says the city’s didn’t do enough to communicate or consult with residents. He says one week to respond is too short, given that it’s the end of the school year and people are starting to head away on vacation.
Rocco’s comments are typical of reaction I’ve seen today on social mediahere and here. What do you think of the names? Add a comment below or email feedback@stittsvillecentral.ca.
More to come…