Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

William Stephenson Way unveiled Sunday

WINNIPEG - Winnipeg will honour one of its most celebrated citizens Sunday when it officially changes the name of Water Avenue to William Stephenson Way.

Stephenson, who was knighted for this contributions as Winston Churchill's master spy, grew up in Point Douglas, not far from the corner of Main Street and the renamed road where Deputy Mayor Justin Swandel and a host of dignitaries will gather for the ceremony.

It begins at 2:30 p.m.

The eastbound one-way street runs from Main Street, just south of Portage Avenue, to the Provencher Bridge.

During his lifetime Stephenson, like the roadway that will honour him, was known by various names.

He was born with the surname Stanger and code-named by British intelligence.

Novelist Ian Fleming also loosely based James Bond after Stephenson.

Stephenson, who became a wealthy businessman and is credited with inventing the technology that we now know as the Fax, graduated from being a flying ace in the First World to master-minding Britain's intelligence during the Second World War and helping found the organization that would become America's Central Intelligence Agency.

He moved to Britain and 1921 and died in Bermuda in 1989, shortly after his 93rd birthday.

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7 Commentscomment icon

He grew up in Point Douglas.....perhaps a street in Point Douglas would have been a more appropriate choice?

I think the relocation idea has merit, especially when all those tourists will be in the area.

@Seafra & Someone my mistake Water Front Drive & Water Ave. My point is don't change street names. In five years something might change and the street name will mean nothing. Name new streets after these people. Who new 10 years ago the arena and stadium at polo park would be considered to be torn down. Yes street names have been changed in the past. Pine St. to Valour Rd. That was a good one,but it did not include a persons name. And to Someone if your drinking at 11:30 when you posted i guess it's 5 oclock some where.

Great way to honour one of Winnipeg's lesser-known and yet most influential former citizens.

Hey harley, have another drink! BTW they're changing Water Ave, not Waterfront Drive.

And for anyone that cares, I think this is a great idea, long overdue. Perhaps they should also relocate his statue to somewhere nice along William Stephenson Way.

I think this is a great idea... honouring one of Winnipeg's unknown war heros with a street name.

harley... they are not changing the name of Water Front Drive... read the article; they are changing the name of Water Avenue which is a totally different street.

As for other streets that have their names changed, I happen to keep abreast of these changes and like many others do know where streets like Milt Stegal Street and Jack Wells Way are located.

changing street names is just dumb.Milt Stegal street Jack Wells Way, no stadium????? 20012 streets changed to Martha Stewart Ave. Phone call to Milt, sorry buddy the stadium was old, torn down your old, nobody knows you street changed names.Water Front Drive means that, beside the river, not William Stephenson Drive. Or does that name mean duck and hide someone might be after you.

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