Fuzzy Boundaries

Keith Koch submitted a name idea through the library suggestion box at the Perth/Dupont location of the Toronto Public Library at 1589 Dupont Street. Keith likes the name Junction Triangle.

The official opening of the West Toronto Railpath on Friday makes me wonder if it doesn't provide the obvious name for our neighbourhood? "The Railpath" is the most prominent feature in the neighbourhood now. It points to our past and our future (especially if Metrolinx has its way). The name is unique, short and concise. It is not a name extension of an existing neighbourhood so we can avoid any confusion or historical inaccuracies.

The name ideas have been rolling in since May. We are close to 200 suggestions and they have all been great! Some have come from children, many from adults and more than a few with a sense of humour, but all the name suggestions have served a purpose - getting people talking about the neighbourhood.
There is still lots of time (81 days/11 1/2 weeks) for more ideas and discussion. The formal consultation period runs until Thursday, January 14th. If you have a name idea or want to make a comment about something you have read here, we hope that you will join the discussion.

I'd like to throw the name Shedden Village into the mix. I think it has been put in before. What I like about it is it really reflects the history of the area. It also sound like a destination where South Junction Triangle, Triangle Gardens, The Triangle, etc. seem like geographical points. They don't for lack of a better term sound warm and inviting.

High Park. The Annex. Parkdale. Bloor West Village. They all say something about the community and it's history. The Shedden Farm is where this area grew from. To me, it's the most appropriate name.

Thoughts?

Hi there Residents,

I have chatted with a bunch of residents and here are some suggestions we came up with.

Torontowood
HighPark East
Bloor Gardens
Triangle Gardens
Bloorway Village
Triangleville
Bloorville
Triangle Village
The Triangle
Social Village

So I say,
Thank you for the chalking,
On the path I'm walk'in.
Thanks for bewildered stares and gawking...

This morning I noticed some funny additions and comments on the pathway. Of course I didn't take notes and they are being washed away now, so you'll have to take my word for it some of them were really funny. Now the rain is gently washing our path. Once again we have a clean slate. A chance to clear our thoughts and consider how we would like to celebrate our community.

The YouTube video featured in the News Section really makes me laugh http://www.fuzzyboundaries.ca/node/68 Not sure if it is the original nature of the list (chalked on the Railpath) or the music, but the ride along the trail is just an awesome way to view all the name suggestions!

Hi all,
Carmen the librarian and fellow CPLC member, who has looked after our kids for years, along with her dedicated colleagues, have one wish. So she has asked me to spread the word and to make some noise about her one wish, and that is to have the Perth Dupont Library renovated. Personally I think the library has seen it's days and has out grown it's self and is busting at the seems. Many library across Toronto has gotten a renow job, time for our community library to get the same. This has been a safe place for the children and adults to go, after school or on the weekend. Read a book or go on the computer. Lets support Carmen and her colleagues, by passing this email on. Thanks Jack

A few weeks ago there was some discussion about famous people living in the neighbourhood. We will be honouring one of those residents with a special showing of the NFB documentary The Travellers on Thursday, November 12 at 6:45 p.m. at the Perth/Dupont location of the Toronto Public Library (1589 Dupont Street). If you are curious to know who that resident might be, come on out and meet the former group member and folk singer in person. Seating is limited, so come early!

Speaking with my friends in the area, here are our two suggestions:

- Lower Junction
- Dundas West Fortress

I was doing some research and the word TRUNK has not had much in any talk here.

I say that as the Grand Trunk went past on the west rail corridor straight down the middle.

I am not suggesting "The Trunk" "Grand Trunk"(although I do like it because it could mean many things) but just saying that it is another rail related word from our past and future and that might lead to a combination or a new word altogether.

I was doing some research and the word TRUNK has not had much in any talk here.

I say that as the Grand Trunk went past on the west rail corridor straight down the middle.

I am not suggesting "The Trunk" "Grand Trunk"(although I do like it because it could mean many things) but just saying that it is another rail related word from our past and future and that might lead to a combination or a new word altogether.

Mrs. S. Patel submitted an idea through the library suggestion box at the Perth/Dupont location of the Toronto Public Library (1589 Dupont). Mrs. Patel likes the name Dupontville.

I like the simplicity of it, but I've got to object to Dupont Station because that's already a place.

How about Wallace Station? Didn't there used to be a station there named that?
-=-

Marion Bridge sent us an e-mail with a name suggestion. Marion thinks the neighbourhood should be called "The Adjunct."

We received this message today from Craig Charnock, "Here are our votes from our family, in order of preference:

1. Railside
2. The Wedge
3. The Foundary

We feel that references to the Junction and Roncesvalles, while giving some geo-context and cache, don't allow the area to stand on it's own. Thanks for the work."

A complete list of neighbourhood name suggestions has been chalked on the West Toronto Railpath. The list of name ideas stretches from Dupont to Bloor and includes all 185 suggested names to date. It is a chance for the neighbourhood to see how we might "wear" a name. Perhaps you'll see something you like or maybe it will spark an idea. If you have a comment or suggestion, we would like to hear from you.

Got an e-mail message from Terri saying "Just wanted to pass on a little tidbit, I have a little hobby of searching houses on MLS (I think I missed my calling) and recently I have noticed one agent advertising a house on Campbell in the 'Wallace Film District' and another one advertising a house on Perth in the 'trendy East Junction.' Just goes to show you who will name the neighbourhood if the community doesn't!"

I was just re-reading a long 1984 Toronto Star article about residents fighting pollution in the "Junction Triangle." I remembered this article because a friend of mine from university worked on it.

The report is interesting from the point of view of the discussion about a neighbourhood name. While I still like the name "Junction Triangle" the article does support those who think the name is too easily confused with the Junction.

The headline on the Star's frontpage reads: "Toronto must balance industry and health in Junction Triangle" and the article mentions a "Junction Triangle Watchdog committee."

However, here's what I found both interesting and dispiriting: the reporters use the names "Junction Triangle" and "Junction" interchangeably. To judge by this article, it would appear that even in the 80s there was confusion between the two neighbourhoods because of the similarity in names.

If nothing else, the Fuzzy Boundaries project has forced to me to think more about the neighbourhood and its history.

It's Thanksgiving and here is the list of all the names suggested since Labour Day:

Wallace Railside Crossing
Wallace Junction Triangle
South Junction Triangle
Fuzzy Boundaries
The Little Junction
The Pathway
Railside
Junction Triangle
Royce Village
Wallace Crossing
Wallace Railside Village
The Wedge
Royce
Nestleville Diamond
West Junction Diamond
Roncy Diamond
WestEdge
W.Edge
Dupont Station
Fuzzy Triangle
The Foundry
Cooper's Crossing
Isoceles Village
Scaletown
Scalene Triangle
Kingsley Farms
The Works
Wallace-Emerson
Sheddenville
Gizmoville
Gizmotown
Gizmo Triangle
Gizmo Station
Gizmo Crossing
Harmony Crossing
Dalton Village

See something you like? Got an idea or want to comment on something you read here? We want to hear from you too.

The sham process that led the Provincial Environment Minister to sign-off on a deal that mandates the purchase of equipment using technology that doesn't exist makes me think we should call Captain Kirk and get a couple of transporters too.

Metrolinx has a license to develop a ten-fold increase in diesel trains on the Dundas-Georgetown corridor and wants to elevate the Newmarket tracks west of Lansdowne on a wall from Bloor to Davenport.

The Premier has an opportunity to live up to his green credo. He can be famous or he can be infamous, but our neighbourhood would always know the transformative figure that made us Dalton Village.

Built it right the first time, go electric now!

If we are going to put Gizmo ideas out there for consideration, we can't overlook Gizmo Crossing! At first blush, it's a close second to my personal favourite Harmony Crossing.

Lindsay Satterthwaite sent us an e-mail with a name idea. Lindsay thinks the neighbourhood should be called "Cooper's Station."

If you have a name idea or want to make comment, you can post it here on the site, or send us an e-mail and we'll post it for you. You can also make a suggestion using the Suggestion Box just inside the door at the Perth/Dupont branch of the Toronto Public Library.

without waxing 'Shakespearian', i think it is important to think about the reason we name things. The name should connote a link to one's emotional connection to 'place'. If possible it should contain a 'pointer' to guide one to the probable location being referred to, and perhaps a touch of humour to soften any blatency involved with the whole concept of 'being there'.

And on another note, we must realize that most commonly names are given by parents to their children. And as a parent, who is not fiercely proud of those names? And as a child, who has never had regrets over having been named such an 'uncool' name by your parents?

Let's find a name that all the neighbourhood can like and bond to, not just cling to a vague (fuzzy) past mistake.