RECOMMENDATION:
THAT
the staff report entitled “Official Recognition of
Unnamed Streams”, dated July 7, 2003 be received;
AND THAT
Council authorize staff to proceed with the geographical names submission
process to officially recognize the following stream names:
·
Burndenett Creek
- Robinson Creek
- Morningside Creek
- Exhibition Creek
AND THAT the
proposed names be forwarded to the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, Don
Watershed Council and the Rouge Park Alliance for support.
AND THAT Town
staff consult with local residents and the Markham Conservation Committee to
identify any further potential stream names for consideration by Council at a
later date.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to obtain Council authorization to initiate
the geographical names submission process for official name recognition of
major tributaries in the Town of Markham currently identified and recognized in
many of the Town’s planning and reference documents.
BACKGROUND:
The Town
has undertaken preliminary research on the official recognition of stream names
in response to requests that have been forwarded to staff by community groups
on potential stream names. The Geographical Names Society has to date
officially recognized the following stream names in Markham:
- Don River
- German Mills Creek
- Rouge River
- Berczy Creek
- Bruce Creek
- Little Rouge Creek
- Katabokokonk Creek
- Major Creek
- Petticoat Creek
The stream reaches and locations are identified
on Figure 1.
In
addition, the Geographical Names Society has, most recently, officially
recognized Willowgrove Creek in 2003.
Willowgrove Creek is a tributary of the Little Rouge Creek located in
Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville (identified on Figure 1). The application
for recognition was submitted by GTA Wetland Watch and endorsed by the Town on
May 28, 2002.
The Geographical Names Board (GNB) is the provincial
authority responsible for controlling names and naming of natural geographical
features and places. The Board
recommends to the Minister of Natural Resources approval or names of
geographical features, and orders into the record approved names of
places. The Geographical Names Board
adheres to a stringent set of primary principles underlying the naming of
landscape features. The Board foremost considers
names that are in current local common usage, and names that commemorate
people. People who have made a
significant contribution to the legacy of the area where the landscape feature
is located, or to the legacy of the province, or people who have lost their
lives in a Canadian wartime or overseas peace keeping operation, are all
considered to be appropriate for commemoration. Full documentation and support is required for each proposed
name.
Once the application for the proposed name has been
submitted to the Geographical Names Board, the Board then confirms the
authenticity of the research that has been submitted by the municipality by
conducting their own research. The
Board consults with and advises government ministries and agencies, municipalities,
railway companies and other bodies or persons concerned with the selection of
place names on the suitability of the proposed name. The final decisions of the board regarding the terms of
acceptance of the name are guided by a set of Naming Principles and by the
collective opinions of the Board. It is
the duty of the committee to recommend to the Minister for approval the name as
well as supply information regarding the geographical name to government
ministries and agencies, cartographers, publishers, and any other persons
engaged in the preparation of maps or other publications intended for official
or public use.
DISCUSSION:
Names being recommended for official recognition
Stream names help define a community and
support environmental protection. Local
stream names have been incorporated into public parkland throughout the Town
including Pomona Park in Thornhill. In
many communities throughout the Town, volunteer stewardship activities have
been undertaken along local streams to plant trees and clean up litter. It would be appropriate to request official
recognition of streams locally named and frequently referenced. For the most part, these stream names are
well known.
Staff are recommending that the
following five names be submitted for official recognition (Figure 2):
- Pomona Creek
2. Burndenett Creek
- Robinson Creek
- Morningside Creek
- Exhibition Creek
Justification for these stream names would be based on long-term
localuse and recognition. Staff
recommend we proceed with the naming application process for these
streams.
The preparation of an application to be submitted to GNS is a
lengthy process. The Board requires
that the proponent of the application conduct archival research in order to
provide evidence of local use or support of the proposed name. Specifically, the Board is looking for
copies of relevant maps, historical documents, newspaper articles and
essentially a comprehensive report outlining the importance and significance of
the name selected for the geographical entity.
The amount of information and the level of detail requested by the Board
requires that staff consult multiple resources and spend time and effort
sifting through appropriate documents to submit. This being the case, we recommend that staff begin the research
for the application process this summer utilizing the summer student hired by
the Policy Planning group.
Staff have also identified additional
stream names which have either been used informally in planning and
environmental documents or by community groups. These stream names are not as commonly used and should be
reviewed further to determine applicability for official recognition. These stream names include the following:
- Little German Mills Creek (west of Leslie
Street generally north of Green Lane to Highway 7 in the Don Watershed)
- Applewood Creek (east of the Rouge River
generally from Apple Creek Boulevard to Major Mackenzie Drive in the Rouge
Watershed)
- Carlton Creek (west of the Bruce Creek
generally from 16th Avenue to Highway 404 in the Rouge
Watershed)
- Milne Creek (north of Milne Park
Conservation Area to Bullock Drive)
These proposed stream names (and
potentially others) require additional research and input from the local
community and environment agencies. We
recommend further consultations be held with the community and local residents
prior to consideration by Council.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
There are no financial considerations
for submitting applications to the Geographical Names Board.
BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
Staff have
consulted with Heritage staff, Museum staff and staff in the Community and Fire
Services as well as the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the
Ministry of Natural Resources in reviewing potential stream names.
ATTACHMENTS:
Figure 1: Officially
Recognized Stream Names
Figure
2: Unofficial
Stream Names
File: Q:\Development\Planning\MISC\MI478
Stream Names
\Report to DSC July 7
2003.doc
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Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Director of Planning and Urban Design
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Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Commissioner of Development Services
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