Neighbourhood Forum

Canstar Community News - ONLINE EDITION

What’s in a name? Plenty when it comes to streets

By: Rick Sparling

Posted: 11/14/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Winnipeg has traditionally named its streets and avenues after historic events and people. By contrast, other Canadian cities use numbers to identify their streets.

Most of our street names come from the early developmental days of Winnipeg. The names of prominent citizens’ daughters were often used. For example, Ellen Ross was the daughter of William Ross, the sheriff of Assiniboia back in 1851. Her name is commemorated by the naming of Ellen Street. Other examples include Gertie, Kate, Lydia, and Adelaide, all daughters of prominent Winnipeggers.

Many of the downtown street names come from Hudson Bay Co. officials such as Donald A. Smith and Joseph James Hargrave to name just a few. Other Winnipeg streets were named after important 19th century events such as the Battle of Seven Oaks. Seven Oaks Avenue and Semple Avenue are a couple of examples. Robert Semple led a party of 20 armed settlers against Gen. Cuthbert Grant in the same battle, although Grant Avenue is far removed from the North End where the actual battle took place.

Streets can sometimes be renamed, although there is a lengthy procedure to go through before than can happen.

One recent example of that kind of change was the renaming of Arena Road to Milt Stegall Drive to honour the former Winnipeg Blue Bomber hall of famer. Other examples include McGillivray Boulevard, which was named for highway commissioner Archibald McGillivray, and was originally known as MacDonald Road. Ewart Street was renamed Sinclair Street after land surveyor, Duncan Sinclair. Another significant street change was renaming Pine Street to Valour Road to honour three recipients of the Victoria Cross following the First World War. All three lived on Pine Street. Sgt.-Maj. Fredrick Hall, Corp. Leo Clarke and Lieut. Robert Shankland all lived in the 700 block of Pine at one time.

Some thoroughfares, such as Broadway, are not designated as streets, avenues or boulevards. Broadway, for example, is known simply as Broadway.

Some street names are simply out of this world. In Fort Garry, Planet Street is surrounded by Saturn Bay, Neptune Bay, Mercury Bay, Venus Bay and Mars Drive. Obviously a Celestial theme!

There are approximately 6,000 trails, roads, closes, ways, streets, avenues, crescents, coves, places and boulevards in Winnipeg, most with a story behind them. Interestingly enough, out of all of these paths only seven are numbered. In the southeast part of the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport sits First Avenue through to Seventh Avenue. I have only scratched the surface here. What’s the story behind your street?

Rick Sparling is a North Kildonan-based writer.

Neighbourhood Forum is a readers’ column. If you live in the Herald area and would like to contribute to this column, contact jim.timlick@canstarnews.com.

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Neighbourhood Forum

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.