Fuzzy Boundaries

Sue Lezon wrote us an e-mail today as well. Sue likes the name Royce Village. "Royce" of course was the old name for Dupont Street.

If you have a name idea or a comment about anything you have read on our site, please feel free to add your thoughts here or send us an e-mail anytime.

Stephen Kreuger sent us an e-mail today with the following comments and name suggestions.

"I will not be at the meeting tonight due work obligations but I did want to participate in the naming process with my suggestion: What I call the area already is "The South Junction Triangle" another name I thought of might be "The Wallace-Junction Triangle"

I only mention Wallace Avenue because it is the only street between Bloor and Dupont that continues uninterrupted East-West through our community. It is the main street which features Yasis, Peppers, The Wallace Street Bridge (leading to the Dundas Street Arts Building), Centennial College@Wallace, The Wallace/Ward Studios, and is a featured entry point to the West Toronto bike path. With Boo Radley's two blocks north on Campbell and The Starving Artist around the corner on Lansdowne I can't think of a street with more distinguishing features.

More important than the name, I feel there should be an image -a herald- that is the standard we attach the name to. Since the locomotive is the emblem for The Junction proper, I submit we not copy this idea even if the word Junction still appears in the name. Still, the train tracks are the distinguishing feature of the neighbourhood and for this reason I suggest the water tower at the Wallace/Ward Studios be the emblem we associate with the name. This is the most visible landmark from any direction and offers some great design possibilities."

I think the area should be called "Fuzzy Boundaries." It is a name that people have been hearing about and it is catchy. The area is nice and gives you a warm feeling.It is unique name and will certainly not go unnoticed. Therefore this area should be named "Fuzzy Boundaries."

The 120-day consultation process (http://www.fuzzyboundaries.ca/NamingProcess) begins formally on Tuesday with broadcaster Jane Farrow at 7 p.m. at 110 Franklin Avenue (St. Josaphat's Ukrainian Catholic Church). In conjunction with our second public meeting, we will publish the complete, alphabetized list of 154+ name suggestions since the project began in May. That’s an amazing start! If you have an idea, an opinion or a concern, we hope that you can join us Tuesday night.

An anonymous contributor suggested we call the neighbourhood "The Little Junction."

The name suggestions just keep coming! Here are all the ideas since Simcoe Day (including a few that are intended to inject some humour into the process):

TriAbBlo or TriAblo - Triangle Above Bloor
TriBeDu - Triangle Below Dupont
TriBeDa - Triangle Below Davenport
NoBroVil - North of Brockton Village
SoDa - South of Davenport (add triangle/Tri to beginning if desired, TriSoDa)
SoDu - South of Dupont (add triangle/Tri to beginning if desired, TriSoDu)
Dieseltown
Railside
Symington
Symington Triangle
Symingtonville
Perth
Perth Triangle
Perth Village
Shedden Farms
Shedden Rails
Shedden Tower
Wedgie West : )
West Junction Diamond
Junction Diamond
Captain Fantastic : )
West Toronto
The Wet Spot
Black Oak Triangle
Perthton village
Perthtown
Perthton
Tribeca Crossing (triangle below Cariboo)
The Nook
Junction Triangle
Harmony Crossing
The Shed
J-Pod (damn Coupland already took it)
T-Pod (T-Dot now T-Pod yo)
Junction Pyramid (like 3D folks)
Triangle Of Power (For all you Soul fans)
Shedden Triangle
Ronction Triangle

You'll find all these names in the blog discussion. See something you like? Got a better idea? We are interested to hear your comments. Many thanks for all of your ideas!

TriAbBlo or TriAblo - Triangle Above Bloor

TriBeDu - Triangle Below Dupont

TriBeDa - Triangle Below Davenport

NoBroVil - North of Brockton Village

SoDa - South of Davenport (add triangle/Tri to beginning if desired, TriSoDa)

SoDu - South of Dupont (add triangle/Tri to beginning if desired, TriSoDu)

I got talking with a neighbour of mine who is quite concerned about the massive diesel train expansion along the Dundas Street rail corridor planned by Metrolinx. He thought if more than 400 fossil fuel burning trains start using the tracks everyday, we should should name the area "Dieseltown." Let's hope the provincial Liberals do the right thing and make the trains electric. "Electric Avenue" would be a much better name.

Railside has a nice ring to it. i was all for Junction Triangle because that's the name historically, however Railside sounds pretty good.

The naming project was featured in the media over the weekend.

On Friday, BlogTO posted a story about the project: http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/08/a_nameless_neighbourhood_needs_help/

The National Post published a story on Saturday: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/08/28/betw...

If that wasn't enough, the Toronto Star included Fuzzy Boundaries in their story about neighbourhood names on Sunday:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/688404

You can find a complete list of all the Fuzzy news coverage on this site by clicking "In The News" in the left-hand column.

Seems obvious to me. Symington and Perth are almost entirely within the neighbourhood, and run right down the middle. And they both sound like (or are) town names, and both have parks with a shared name in the area.

Symington
Symington Triangle
Symingtonville
Perth
Perth Triangle
Perth Village

Shedden Farms
Shedden Rails
Shedden Tower

How about Wedgie West? Kidding, I love the engagement and debate.

I was riding home on the bike path today and thinking about the idea of a name for the neighbourhood. I'd like to propose the name I suggested before which is "The Diamond." One of the historical names for the 'hood was the "West Junction Diamond" or "Junction Diamond" so it has that connection. As well, we live in a this really interesting neighbourhood, consisting of a mix of residential/industrial and rail lines. It's a lttle rough around the edges in places and very diverse. It already is a bit of a diamond in the rough.

Coal compressed enough becomes a diamond. This neighbourhood with it's industrial history and working class heritage is a bit like that piece of hard working coal. The positive changes/energy (as represented by groups like fuzzy boundries) happening in the community can be the compression that turns this neighbourhood into a diamond.

Since this “naming” project began, I seriously started thinking about the question: what makes a robust neighbourhood? I think just the very idea of people beginning to contemplate about what surrounds them and how it may or may not affect them is what makes this project interesting.

I honestly can’t think of a community name to suggest, but I am very open to all the possibilities that may develop. Given that our area has NO BIA, a strong collective identity will make any residents group, that forms afterward, easier to apply for community improvement grants. A more cohesive residents group can form various committees of interest from socio-political issues, festivals, the arts to environmental concerns, etc. These various committees can work towards a common a goal – a stronger community. These committees should complement each other NOT COMPETE at which cause/issue is more important to one another. All this can stem from a common identity. Perhaps all this would also inspire a few business owners to get together and form a BIA. Wouldn’t that be nice?

A stronger community identity makes everyone proud, including those who live in TCHC homes – it’s been studied and applied that communities that thrive have a mixture of social-economic classes. The rebuilding of Regent Park as a social-economic mixture is a good example. Ghettoization of the poor is what leads to higher crime and more injustice for neighbourhood residents.

I for one am looking forward to the next Fuzzy meeting, learning more about our area and meeting other neighbours whom I’ve never met before.

Kudos to the Fuzzy Boundaries members who scored Jane Farrow as guest speaker!

Elton John fans, do not adjust your set, Jason Loggins thinks our neighbourhood should be called "Captain Fantastic." No word yet on the status of the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

Many thanks for your suggestion Jason. We love your sense of humour! Regards to your brother Kenny. Anyone got a light?

A lot of the discussion and suggestions about a neighbourhood name have centered around the shape or appearance of the area. Triangle has figured prominently in a number of the ideas because of the configuration of the rail tracks surrounding the neighbourhood.

Just recently we saw diamond enter into the discussion. The familiar X shape of rail crossings has been added to the list of ideas with Harmony Crossing. A block configuration is part of the Boys and Girls Club Summer Camp favourite name with P-Block. The Club also introduced a square with the idea of calling the area Perth Square. A pyramid shape appeared with the whimsical idea Junction Pyramid. A wedge, a box and a corner have also been added to the list of shapely ideas.

You can help shape the discussion by adding your ideas and comments. Everyone is welcome to participate!

I had read recently that one of the names in which this neighbourhood used to be called was the "West Junction Diamond" I suggest shortening it to "The Junction Diamond"

Thanks.

With more than 100 name suggestions so far, the ideas just keep coming. Here are the five most recent name suggestions:

West Toronto
The Wet Spot
Black Oak Triangle
Perthton Village
Perthtown

You'll find all these names in the blog discussion. See something you like? Got a better idea? We are interested to hear your comments. Many thanks for all of your ideas!

I was talking with a local business person today, who thinks the neighbourhood name should be West Toronto. He says the rail companies have always called it West Toronto. With the new paint jobs on the bike trail overpasses at Dupont and at Bloor, West Toronto has suddenly become very prominent. And with places like East York and Bloor West, he doesn't see the name being a problem.

Over a few cold drinks last night, I was chatting with a market research person and branding expert about the naming project. He thought the neighbourhood would be better served by having a unique name rather than one that is just an extension of an existing neighbourhood, such as Junction Triangle. He thinks the a name should distinguish and/or elevate us above surrounding neighbourhoods. Given our locale, and the Junction's history of being dry, he half-joking suggested "The Wet Spot."

I propose that we name our area Black Oak Triangle.

It's visual!
We can say "Black Oak Triangle" without having to use words. Imagine street banners flying from our light standards. They are triangular in shape with beautiful drawings of Black Oak leaves on them.

Why "Black Oak"?
_It is a native species found here in our area.
-It is timeless. The species was here before we were. If we are reasonable stewards of the land, it will still be here after we are gone.
_ The species demonstrates creativity and resilience. Black oak hybridizes with red and pin oak and so its characteristics are variable. This tree can produce offspring with other trees that are not Black Oaks!
_It is inclusive. If Black Oak will grow in your yard, then you can self-identify as being part of Black Oak Triangle.

Why Triangle?
Because we are triangular!

Many thanks to Fuzzy Boundaries for organizing this initiative.

It's shaping up to be the battle of the traingle vs. the crossing. Here are the five most recent name suggestions:

Tribeca Crossing (triangle below Cariboo)
The Nook
Junction Triangle
Harmony Crossing
The Shed

You will find all these name suggestions in the blog. The discussion has been great. If you have an idea or a comment, think of this as your microphone and take the stage.

I like a number of the options but wanted to throw my two cents in...

Tribeca ( like NY ) also similiar to the suggestion of Tribeda (Triangle beneath Davenport) ... think Triangle Below Caribou (that's where the path ends)

and

Crossing

all the railways cross through here as well as the major roads in TO go through our area...

Dundas, College, Bloor

so there is my case for TRIBECA CROSSING

PS - I love the fact that we do have a Community and a Voice - thanks to everyone in the hood for caring it makes our neighbourhood worth living in!!

How about "The Nook" because it's kind of tucked away.

Just to mention, we keep talking about the triangle as a boundary but I have spoken to some people just on the other side of the tracks who say that the don't want to live in no-man's land. Can't the boundaries include them?

Here are some names that will probably not be chosen...

J-Pod (damn Coupland already took it)

T-Pod (T-Dot now T-Pod yo. Or when my British grandmother was not wearing her dentures; “Luv co ya path the T-Pod?”)

Junction Pyramid (like 3D folks)

Triangle Of Power (For all you Soul fans)

I prefer the name "Junction Triangle", and here are my reasons:

It's a name that is already in use. This neighbourhood has been referred to as the Junction Triangle since at least the late 1970s, and although the name isn't as well known anymore, many people still use it. Our City Councillor and his staff use the name amongst themselves when referring to the area. There are City of Toronto planning documents from the 1980's and even as recent as 2007 using this name. The media still calls this area "Junction Triangle" (Ref: Globe and Mail July 29 2009, The Villager March 13 2009.

When I initially told other people in the area about the naming project (e.g. at a DIGIN meeting), many people responded by saying that this neighbourhood is already called the Junction Triangle, and that there's no need for a new name. People already know and use this name.

Here are a few other reasons why I prefer the existing "Junction Triangle" name:

• Describes the physical shape of the neighbourhood
• Not only does it reference the past history of the area, but it also proudly accepts the fact that were are still a community defined by our railway borders.
• Does not have the fake "village", "town", "gardens" ring to it.
• The triangle is the strongest geometric shape

We don't need a new name, however I do fully support the idea of standardizing and publicizing a common one. Let's promote the one that is already most commonly used. We should take pride in the name Junction Triangle, and make it better-known. Everyone around Toronto should know that the Junction Triangle is this great little neighbourhood with an interesting history, a fantastic mix of current residents, a really great linear park along the western border, some excellent local businesses, and a healthy community spirit.

Regarding the "South Junction Triangle" name: This neighbourhood should definitely NOT be called the South Junction Triangle. This name was chosen by a single person when a new (now defunct) residents association started up a couple of years ago. Our neighbourhood isn't really south of the Junction. We're mostly east of the Junction, or better-yet: south-east. "South Junction Triangle" could also allude to the southern section of the area already referred to as the Junction Triangle, so that just adds confusion to it.