Rob Ford, Jerry Howarth among names shortlisted for new streets in Etobicoke

Thestar.com
August 20, 2019
Kenyon Wallace

The name of Toronto’s most famous -- and infamous -- politician, that of the late former mayor Rob Ford, could soon be immortalized on the city’s map as a street name in Etobicoke.

Ford’s name is among 10 shortlisted by the city for three new streets created as part of the “Six Points” intersection reconstruction where Dundas St. W., Bloor St. W. and Kipling Ave. meet, just northeast of Kipling subway station.

Other notable citizens who could be honoured with a street name -- all suggestions submitted by the public after the city solicited ideas back in the fall of 2018 -- include Darwyn Cooke, an award-winning graphic artist who grew up in the area and who died in 2016; clinical psychologist Dr. Judith Pilowsky, well known for promoting rights for women and immigrants; and legendary broadcaster and voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, Jerry Howarth, a long-time Etobicoke resident.

This list also includes Indigenous names such as Adobigok, the word used by the Mississauga First Nation to refer to the Etobicoke Creek and the area around it, and Biindagen, which means “enter,” “come in” or “welcome” in Ojibwe.

But it is the proposal to name a street after Ford that will likely prove controversial, much like a similar idea to name an Etobicoke stadium in honour of the late former mayor did in September 2017. That suggestion, put forward by Ford’s brother, Doug Ford, and backed by Mayor John Tory, provoked both howls of outrage and support on social media. The proposal was ultimately rejected by city council.

Lawvin Hadisi, press secretary for Mayor John Tory, told the Star that the mayor “looks forward to seeing the results of the Six Points street naming competition.”

The city’s list of proposed street names notes that Ford served three terms as councillor for Ward 2 Etobicoke North and as Toronto’s 64th mayor from 2010 to 2014.

Ford died of cancer in March 2016 at the age of 46.

His mayoralty proved a tumultuous affair marked by scandals stemming from his use of hard drugs and alcohol. Perhaps most infamously, as first reported by the Star and Gawker in May 2013, Ford was caught on video smoking from what appeared to be a crack pipe. Ford initially denied the reports, but later admitted to reporters to smoking crack “probably in one of my drunken stupors.”

Councillor Stephen Holyday (Ward 2, Etobicoke Centre), who represents the ward that includes part of the new Six Points reconstruction, would not say whether he supported the proposal to name a street after Ford, saying he hopes the Ford family would be consulted “before we go too far with it to make sure that’s what their aspirations are.”

Neither Premier Doug Ford, nor Rob Ford’s nephew, Councillor Michael Ford (Ward 1, Etobicoke North), responded to the Star’s requests for comment Monday.

Councillor John Filion (Ward 18, Willowdale) said his personal preference would be to see the late former mayor’s name grace something personally associated with the man, such as a local football stadium.

Ford was a longtime coach for the Don Bosco football team before he was banned from coaching the sport at any Catholic school in Toronto following a review of comments he made about some players in a Sun News interview.

“He was somewhat notorious but he was also mayor of the city,” said Filion. “He died tragically. I don’t have a problem with his memory being noted in some appropriate way.”

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 16, Don Valley East) said he has no objection to the proposal but said it should be decided by the local community.

“To the extent that the interchange is in Etobicoke, the residents in Etobicoke should have their say,” he said.

The City of Toronto is creating several new streets as part of its development of the reconstruction of the Six Points intersection in Etobicoke.

On Monday, the city issued a call-out on Twitter asking the public to rate the 10 shortlisted names, which were culled from over 600 submissions. Ratings are open until Sept. 2, after which time a city panel will recommend three names to the Etobicoke York Community Council, which has the final say. The city says at least one Indigenous language name will be recommended.

Howarth, the former Blue Jays broadcaster who retired in 2018 after 36 years with the team, told the Star that just to be nominated “is reward enough for me with all the good people who have also been nominated and contributed so much to our city of Etobicoke.”

The city’s website notes that Howarth was one of the first sports broadcasters who refused to use team names that were offensive to Indigenous peoples.

Howarth said he was “touched” to learn he had been nominated by friend Traci James, a referee he met in the early ’90s while coaching basketball at Islington Middle School and later Etobicoke Collegiate Institute.

“She was so good at not only refereeing our games but also mentoring my players on the floor, too, with great patience and insight. We have been friends to this very day,” Howarth said. “I was so touched and moved by that and thanked her from the bottom of my heart.”