STAFF REPORT
ACTION REQUIRED
Naming of Public Lanes in the St. Lawrence
Neighbourhood
Date:
January 22, 2015
To:
Toronto and East York Community Council
From:
Director, Engineering & Construction Services
Wards:
Ward 28
Reference
P:\2015\Cluster B\TEC\ TE15004
Number:
SUMMARY
This report responds to Item TE34.209, adopted by Toronto and East York Community
Council on August 12, 2014, requesting the Director, Engineering & Construction
Services to prepare a report on naming 4 public lanes in the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood.
This report recommends that the names "Spice Mill Lane", Gendron Lane", "Barbed Wire
Lane" and "Bootlegger Lane" be adopted.
Community Councils have delegated authority to decide street naming matters which
comply with the City of Toronto Honourific and Street Naming Policy. This naming
proposal complies with that policy.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Engineering & Construction Services recommends that Toronto and East York
Community Council:
1. Approve the name, "Spice Mill Lane" to identify the public lane located west of
Church Street, extending between Lombard Street and Adelaide Street East.
2. Approve the name, "Gendron Lane" to identify the public lane extending westerly
from Ontario Street, between Adelaide Street East and Richmond Street East.
3. Approve the name, "Barbed Wire Lane" to identify the public lane located west of
Church Street, extending northerly then westerly from Lombard Street.
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4. Approve the name, "Bootlegger Lane" to identify the public lane located south of
Queen Street East, extending easterly then southerly from George Street to Britain
Street.
Financial Impact
There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report.
ISSUE BACKGROUND
The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association has requested the naming of several lanes
through Councillor McConnell's office.
At its meeting on August 12, 2014, Toronto and East York Community Council adopted
Item TE34.209 which contained the following decision:
1. Requested the Director, Engineering Services to prepare a report for Toronto and
East York Community Council on naming the north-south lane from Adelaide
Street East to Lombard Street between Church Street and Victoria Street as “Spice
Mill Lane”.
2. Requested the Director, Engineering Services to prepare a report for Toronto and
East York Community Council on naming the north-south lane west of Ontario St.
between Adelaide Street East and Richmond Street East as “Gendron Lane”.
3. Requested the Director, Engineering Services to prepare a report for Toronto and
East York Community Council on naming the east-west lane north of Lombard
Street between Church Street and Victoria Street as “Barbed Wire Lane”.
4. Requested the Director, Engineering Services to prepare a report for Toronto and
East York Community Council on naming the L-shaped lane north of Britain
Street, east of George Street as "Speakeasy Lane"
It should be noted that Item 2 above, is incorrect in referring to a "north-south" lane. The
lane actually runs east-west.
Subsequently, Councillor McConnell suggested to Engineering & Construction Services
that the preferred name "Bootlegger Lane" be substituted for "Speakeasy Lane".
COMMENTS
The following background information on these names has been provided by the St.
Lawrence Neighbourhood Association:
“Spice Mill Lane”
In the 19th century this lane was adjacent to the Todhunter and Mitchell Spice Mill, at one
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time the largest in Toronto. Most of these coffee and spice mills were located in this area
of Toronto and the naming will commemorate this industrial history.
"Gendron Lane”
The Gendron Manufacturing Company was founded by Canadian-born Peter Gendron and
had plants in Toledo and Toronto. The Toronto plant was located immediately north of
this lane and employed about 100 people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The
company built things such as sleighs, wheel chairs, baby carriages, and hospital beds. The
company specialised in carriages with wire wheels, invented and patented by Peter
Gendron
“Barbed Wire Lane”
This lane was adjacent to factory of the Ontario Lead and Barbed Wire Company in the
late 19th century. The recommendation “Barbed Wire Lane” will commemorate the
industrial heritage of the area and in particular the Ontario Lead and Barbed Wire
Company founded by Lewis Samuel, an early Canadian industrialist who was anxious to
participate further in Canada’s expanding economy.
"Bootlegger Lane"
This name is intended to commemorate a local resident of the area in the mid 20th century
reputedly involved in bootlegging activity.
The proposed names have been circulated for comment and are acceptable to Toronto
Police Service, Toronto Paramedic Services, Toronto Fire Services and the Toronto and
East York Preservation Panel.
Councillor McConnell supports this naming application.
The naming proposal was a result of discussion and consultation with area residents.
This naming proposal complies with the City of Toronto Honourific and Street Naming
Policy.
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2013.EX36.3
These lanes are shown on Attachment No.1 Sketch No. PS-2014-106 according to the
following schedule:
Part #
1
2
3
4
Proposed Name
Spice Mill Lane
Gendron Lane
Barbed Wire Lane
Bootlegger Lane
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CONTACT
Kerry Ferguson, O.L.S.
Senior Ontario Land Surveyor
Phone: 416-392-7757, Fax: 416-392-0081, E-mail: [email protected]
SIGNATURE
______________________________
S h i rl e y W i l s on, P .Eng.
Director, Engineering & Construction Services
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment No. 1 Sketch No. PS-2014-106
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