During Monday evening’s Committee of the Whole meeting in Smiths Falls, Senior Planner Karl Grenke presented a short list of revised street name options for two new streets in the Bellamy Farms development.  Parkview Homes chose six possible street names from the Approved Names list: Currie Avenue, Ashwell Boulevard, or Whitcomb Boulevard for Road 1, and Williston Terrace, Smith Terrace, or Graham Terrace for Road 2.

Grenke also shared feedback from the fire department and police chief, who requested that, as Williston and Whitcomb are similar in pronunciation, if council chooses one they should not choose the other.

Councilor Wendy Alford said, “I would favour Whitcomb, a veteran. Mr. Whitcomb is well worthy of this. For Road #2 I would prefer to see Graham, after Margaret Graham, the first of only seven women on town council so far.”

Councilor Niki Dwyer agreed. “I am okay with any of them as long as they’re coming from the list. My preference would be to pick a veteran’s name.”

Councilor Chris McGuire pointed out that the Approved Name list includes no Indigenous names or names of people of colour and recommended it be reviewed and changed.

Mayor Shawn Pankow also noted that the Approved Name policy is limited to surnames. “All we’ve got in the policy are surnames. For complete recognition, I’d like to see us including the first names as well. I know it would require an amendment of the policy, but I think it would be a lot more meaningful if it included the first name.”

Council directed staff to present the names Whitcomb Boulevard and Margaret Graham Terrace to the developer.

Article by Janelle Labelle