Toronto’s monumental shift: Dundas Street renaming sparks global conversation

The Purpose

Dundas Street was named after Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811), a prominent politician whose influence delayed the abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the 1790s. During the period leading up to the eventual passage of the Slave Trade Act in 1807, half a million more Black people were enslaved on British Territories. Petitioners sought to have his name removed to discontinue the implicit celebration of this negative legacy.

The Challenge

Global activism for racial justice and equity has led to scrutiny of the history of monuments, street names, and the individuals they commemorate. In 2020, an online petition signed by more than 14,000 people urged the City of Toronto to rename Dundas Street, due to its associations with slavery.

The City has identified 60 other place names that have faced scrutiny in media articles, along with 12 streets named after slave owners. 

The Solution

The City responded by engaging in discovery sessions with Black, Indigenous, and other local community members, conducting extensive academic research, and reviewing over 400 global case studies. These efforts ultimately led the City Council to vote in favour of renaming Dundas Street and other civic properties bearing the Dundas name. This decision aligns with the City’s commitment to confronting anti-Black racism and creating a more equitable and inclusive urban environment. In collaboration with a Community Advisory Committee consisting of Black and Indigenous leaders, the City is shortlisting new names for Dundas Street. A final choice is expected to be made in 2023.

The City also viewed the name change as an opportunity to launch a public education program, aimed at countering the notion that removing monuments and changing place names amounts to ‘erasing history.’ It partnered with the Toronto Public Library to develop a reading list and accessible materials on Dundas, slavery and the Black Canadian experience to encourage dialogue. Additionally, it hosted a virtual town hall and panel discussion about the significance of naming and commemoration.

This process has led the City to reflect on the underrepresentation of various demographics in the public realm, including Black and Indigenous people, newcomers, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Consequently, the City Council has introduced new guidelines for naming and commemoration, seeking to rectify this imbalance by prioritising untold stories from underrepresented communities.

However, there are practical and logistical challenges to address. Dundas Street is one of the longest streets in Toronto, home to over 97,000 residents and 4,500 businesses. The City is devising a transition plan to facilitate the name change, which involves 15 divisions and agencies in the replacement of over 730 street signs, updating transportation maps and signage, and renaming three parks and a library. The project is expected to span a year and cost CAD 6 million.

The Impact

The City has identified 60 other place names that have faced scrutiny in media articles, along with 12 streets named after slave owners. The new guidelines will provide options for addressing future public requests, drawing lessons from the Dundas Street project.

This initiative has been significant for the City, ensuring that the voices of communities most affected by Dundas’s actions played a central role in the decision-making process. The City aims to make its experience more widely applicable, as many other cities are now reconsidering their statues and street names.

This is a relatively new challenge, with few examples of comprehensive and equitable approaches to address it. By establishing an equity-focused framework for commemoration and naming, Toronto hopes to serve as a model for others grappling with these issues.

Source: World Cities Culture Report 2018

Images Courtesy © Getty/Canva