STAFF REPORT

August 29, 2006

To: Etobicoke York Community Council

From: W. (Wally) Kowalenko, City Surveyor, Technical Services

Subject: Naming of Proposed Public Streets at 115 Torbarrie Road (Ward 7 - York West)

Purpose:

This report recommends that the public streets to be located at the 115 Torbarrie Road subdivision be named Fred Young Drive, Jorma Palomaki Terrace, Sergio Marchi Street, Leila Jackson Terrace and Avenue.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) a street be named Fred Young Drive in the Torbarrie Road subdivison;

(2) subject to the granting of an exception to the policy of avoiding the naming of streets after living persons, the remaining streets in the Torbarrie Road subdivison be named Jorma Palomaki Terrace, Sergio Marchi Street, Leila Jackson Terrace and Judy Sgro Avenue; and

(3) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Background:

A request has been made by Ringley Construction Limited (80 Tiverton Court, Suite 300, Markham, ON L3R 0G4) to name five proposed public streets at their subdivision at 115 Torbarrie Road, as shown on Attachment No. 1.

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The names Fred Young, Jorma Palomaki, Sergio Marchi, Leila Jackson and Judy Sgro have been suggested by Councillor to recognize people who have contributed to the local community. Additional information on each individual is outlined in Attachment No. 2.

The City of Street Naming Policy approved by City Council at its meeting held on August 1, 2, 3 and 4, 2000 (Clause 9, Report 15 of the Works Committee), states that:

(1) Streets should generally be named after people, places, events and things related to the City and the citizens of Toronto. Proposed names should meet one of the following criteria

(a) to honour and commemorate noteworthy persons associated with the City of Toronto;

(b) to commemorate local history, places, events or culture;

(c) to strengthen neighbourhood identity;

(d) to recognize native flora, fauna or natural features related to the community and the City of Toronto; or

(e) to recognize communities which contribute to the ethno-racial diversity of Toronto.

(2) Consideration should be given to names of local area or historic significance.

(3) Names of living persons should be used only in exceptional circumstances.

(4) Similar sounding names such as Beach Avenue and Peach Avenue, or Apple Hill Road and Apple Road should be avoided.

Comments:

The proposed names have been circulated for comment. Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services support three of the names but do not support the name Leila Jackson as there is already a “Leila Lane” and three streets use the name “Jackson”. There is also a concern with potential pronunciation problems with the name Judy Sgro.

Ringley Construction Limited supports the proposed names.

The Etobicoke York Preservation Panel has no objection to the proposed names, but has noted streets should be named after living persons only in exceptional circumstances.

Conclusions:

The five proposed names conform with Council’s street naming policy as the names honour and commemorate noteworthy persons associated with the City of Toronto.

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The use of the full name “Leila Jackson” with the street type designation “Terrace” should help to distinguish it from other streets, which use the names “Leila” or “Jackson”.

Based on the biographical summaries set out in the attachment 2 and subject to City Council concurrence, the naming of streets after Jorma Palomaki, Sergio Marchi, Leila Jackson and Judy Sgro could be considered exceptional and approved for use in the subdivision at 115 Torbarrie Road.

Contact:

Desmond Christopher, Supervisor, Street and Parcel Mapping Phone: 416-392-1831, Fax: 416-392-0081 E-mail: [email protected]

W. (Wally) Kowalenko City Surveyor, Technical Services

BH

File: 132CC-E.doc

List of Attachments: Attachments – Map, Background Information - 4 -

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Attachment No. 2

Fred Young

Fred Matthews Young (died December 1993) was a Canadian politician, ordained minister and long time organizer for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). After working as a minister in the United Church of Canada, Young was drawn to politics. Young worked in the 1940s and 1950s as an organizer for the CCF though technically he was a staff representative for the United Steel Workers of America and seconded to the party travelling throughout Atlantic Canada and on party work.

In 1953, he ran for the leadership of the Ontario CCF, losing by six votes to Donald C. MacDonald in the CCF leadership convention. He won election to the town council of , Ontario. He attempted on several occasions to win a seat for the CCF and its successor, the (NDP) either at the federal or provincial level. He won election to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1963 provincial election for the North York riding of . Young sat as an Ontario New Democratic Party Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) from 1963 until 1981. As a legislator, Young fought for highway safety and mandatory use of seat belts. He was also an early advocate of airbags. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Young

Jorma Palomaki

Jorma Palomaki has lived, worked and been involved in the community for 45 years. She helped organize the Gulfstream Ratepayers Association, is a member of the steering committee for the area Community Centre and a member of the Sheppard and Housing Development. Jorma has been involved with environmental issues, the Finch and Weston Road Project and started the neighbourhood Watch in her area. (Information provided by Jarma Palomaki).

Sergio Marchi - Sergio Marchi, PC (born May 12 1956) is a Canadian diplomat and former politician. Marchi was born in Argentina to an Italian family who subsequently immigrated to Canada. He worked as a businessman and urban planner. He entered politics when he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1984 election as the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for the Toronto-area riding of York West. When the Liberals came to power in the 1993 election, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien brought Marchi into the Canadian Cabinet as Secretary of State for Canada. He subsequently served as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Minister of the Environment. He was appointed Minister of International Trade in 1997. Marchi left politics in 1999 to accept an appointment as Canadian ambassador to the World Trade Organization in Geneva. He served one term as Chairman of the WTO's ruling council. In February 2006, Marchi joined the Toronto law firm of Lang Michener LLP as a senior advisor. Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/sergio-marchi

Leila Jackson

Leila Jackson was born in Quebec and moved to Toronto in 1953 where she began working, got married and raised a family. She has lived near Sheppard and Weston Road since 1963 and - 6 -

worked in Nursing at the Humber Memorial Hospital until retiring in 1996. Leila has been involved in figure skating, Guides, Cubs, and Scouts. She has helped those in need by driving people to and from doctors’ offices and hospitals, by cutting grass, shopping, and helping where needed. Leila received the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and received a plaque from Governor of Canada and City of Toronto in 2005 for her community involvement, which included "Neighbours Night Out", a gathering of the residents on the street, Neighbourhood Watch, Community Police Liaison of 31 Division, and spokesperson for the community and surrounding area. (Information provided by Leila Jackson)

Judy Sgro

Honourable Judy Sgro, Privy Council, Member of Parliament, York West. The Honourable Judy Sgro was first elected to the House of Commons for the riding of York West in a by-election on November 15, 1999, and re-elected in November 2000, June 2004, and January 2006.

She has a long record of public service. On May 4, 2006, Judy was selected as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

Judy was delighted to have been chosen by her peers for this significant position. She is working diligently with her colleagues to move forward and to improve the quality of life for all women in Canada.

In 2005, Judy was a Member of the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. This role complemented her work as a community safety advocate, and her commitment to make Toronto a safer place to work and play. Judy continues to champion community safety issues, encouraging crime-prevention programs at the local level, working to promote victim's rights, and supporting tough sentences for offenders.

In December 2003, Judy was appointed Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in Paul Martin's Cabinet. While Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Judy championed family re-unification policies and worked hard to ensure our Immigration system is fair and compassionate.

Previously, Judy served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services. In this role, she assisted Honourable Ralph Goodale with numerous files and gained valuable experience.

From May 2001 to December 2002, Judy was Chair of the Prime Minister's Caucus Task Force on Urban Issues. Her report A Blueprint for Action was acclaimed and highly praised by numerous stakeholders. It has served as a reference for the creation of government policy to ensure Canada's urban regions have a sound foundation for future growth and prosperity. The report focuses on three priority programs as pillars of Canada's Urban Strategy: a National Affordable Housing Program; a National Sustainable Infrastructure Program; and a National Transit/Transportation Program.

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Since first elected to the House of Commons, Judy has served on many Standing Committees, including Health, Justice and Human Rights, Human Resources Development, Government Operations and Estimates, and Public Accounts.

Judy is a member of many Parliamentary Associations, including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association, and the Canada- United States Inter-Parliamentary Group.

Judy served on the from 1995 to 1998. She was a member of many committees, and was appointed Mayor Lastman’s Designate on the Toronto Police Services Board where she was elected Vice-Chair.

As Vice-Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board, she worked tirelessly to preserve the integrity of the Toronto Police Service. Judy used this opportunity to champion the fight for the rights of the Residents of Toronto.

In 1994, Ms. Sgro was elected Regional Councilor to the Metropolitan Toronto Council where she was a member of Metro Toronto's Budget Committee, as well as Planning and Transportation. She initiated Canada's first "John school" to combat street prostitution; a model adopted across Canada and the United States. Judy was a founding member of Streetlight Support Services, an organization to provide alternatives for individuals involved in prostitution.

She served on the North York City Council from 1987 to 1994 where she was a member of the executive committee of the Council. Judy was a member of the planning committee, North York Library, Intergovernmental, and numerous other committees of Council.

Involved in many community and charity organizations, she is Past President of the Downsview Unit of the Cancer Society. Most recently she has served on the Board of Governors for Villa Colombo. She is also a former Member of the Humber Hospital Board of Directors.

Source: http://www.judysgro.com/bio.html