25 signatures reached
To: Toronto City Council
Rename Dundas Street to Freedom Street
In the summer of 2020, Andrew Lochhead launched a petition "calling on the City of Toronto to begin a public, transparent, and inclusive process to rename Dundas Street over the role of its namesake (Henry Dundas, First Viscount Melville) in obstructing the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade."
On July 6, 2021, thanks to Lochhead's petition and the work of community organizers, Toronto’s Executive Committee voted to begin the process of re-naming Dundas Street.
Freedom is what we stand for and freedom and equality should be reflected and celebrated in Toronto; that is why we at Co-op Cabs, are calling for the City of Toronto to consider renaming Dundas Street "Freedom Street."
On July 6, 2021, thanks to Lochhead's petition and the work of community organizers, Toronto’s Executive Committee voted to begin the process of re-naming Dundas Street.
Freedom is what we stand for and freedom and equality should be reflected and celebrated in Toronto; that is why we at Co-op Cabs, are calling for the City of Toronto to consider renaming Dundas Street "Freedom Street."
Why is this important?
Henry Dundas, First Viscount Melville, the person after which Dundas Street was named, actively participated in obstructing the abolition of slavery in his role as MP for Midlothian in Westminster and as Secretary of State.
As stated by RenameDundasStreet.ca, "the commemorative infrastructure that celebrates the perpetrators of slavery, colonialism, and cultural genocide have a real and tangible impact on the lived experiences of communities of colour and Black and Indigenous communities who are forced to interact with them on a daily basis."
Toronto's diverse taxi industry is made up of drivers from Black, Indigenous and racialized communities, many of which must travel and transport Torontonians along roads and streets named after figures like Dundas.
“Street names change all the time. We can do this, and we should,” says Co-op Cabs CEO Abdul Mohamoud. “I don’t think anyone who committed these things should have their names cherished. Changing the name is an important symbolic action to make up for the past.”
The City of Toronto has a duty to listen to the voices calling for change, thus, renaming Dundas Street would be an important step toward addressing the systemic racism embedded in our city.
As stated by RenameDundasStreet.ca, "the commemorative infrastructure that celebrates the perpetrators of slavery, colonialism, and cultural genocide have a real and tangible impact on the lived experiences of communities of colour and Black and Indigenous communities who are forced to interact with them on a daily basis."
Toronto's diverse taxi industry is made up of drivers from Black, Indigenous and racialized communities, many of which must travel and transport Torontonians along roads and streets named after figures like Dundas.
“Street names change all the time. We can do this, and we should,” says Co-op Cabs CEO Abdul Mohamoud. “I don’t think anyone who committed these things should have their names cherished. Changing the name is an important symbolic action to make up for the past.”
The City of Toronto has a duty to listen to the voices calling for change, thus, renaming Dundas Street would be an important step toward addressing the systemic racism embedded in our city.