Dundas impact of city landmarks and monuments review not yet known
The name of the former Town of Dundas is not expected to be part of a City of Hamilton review of landmarks and monuments because it ceased to legally exist in 2001, but it's not yet clear if a small stretch of road, city parks or facilities in the Valley Town bearing the Dundas name could be included.
Because the town named Dundas officially ceased to exist with amalgamation, there is no legal entity for the city to review or change. The landmarks and monuments review is focused on finding opportunities to honour the Indigenous community" so may not include the Dundas name at all. It's also not clear if other local street or facility names will be included.
City spokesperson Michelle Williams said the review will identify short- and long-term opportunities to address and respectfully acknowledge Indigenous and historical landmarks - including statues, monuments, park and street names, trails and open spaces, and facilities across the city.
The scope of the review will begin with the landmarks that are significant to the Indigenous community," Williams said.
She said the outcome of the review is not predetermined, but Williams did not confirm the status of the name Dundas in the review.
Various factors will be analyzed when determining the most appropriate actions to recommend for each of the identified landmarks or names of significance," Williams said.
A staff report is expected on the review this fall to the emergency and community services committee.
Though some details of the review are not yet known, it would not impact private business or organizations or community nicknames - only names on city-owned property.
Dundas resident and McMaster University professor Marvin Ryder chaired the City of Hamilton transition board, prior to amalgamation.
These community names have no legal standing. Legally, everything is part of the City of Hamilton," Ryder said.
He said in the first term of the amalgamated city council, there was a feeling numbered wards were too sterile" so ward councillors gave each ward a word descriptor.
These are really more nicknames to make ward identification seem less cold," Ryder said. They have no legal meaning."
He said these nicknames can be changed by individual ward councillors without a vote by city council.
Even if the ward was given a new name, it would not mean that Dundas Minor Hockey or Dundas Glass & Mirror or Dundas Dental Care or Dundas Variety would have to change their names," Ryder said.
Dundas resident and local amateur historian Clare Crozier said he doesn't think people reviewing the street name Dundas in Toronto did their research. He said, in his view, Dundas the man did not endorse or support slavery or the slave trade.
Crozier wrote a letter to Toronto city council critiquing a staff report recommending changing the street name.
What I find disingenuous is that their research has failed to give a full picture of the man or detailed some of the compelling reasons for Dundas' gradual approach to ending slavery," Crozier stated in the letter.
His letter summarized roadblocks facing abolitionists at the time, and what he says was Dundas' effort to produce legislation ending the slave trade that would pass, despite strong interests that supported maintaining slavery at the time.
He said Dundas' 1792 motion to end the slave trade within four years was the first piece of such legislation to pass in the British House of Commons after previous failed attempts. It was defeated in the House of Lords.
Crozier said arguing Dundas was responsible for delaying an end to the slave trade ignores later attempts that failed to pass.
I think the public needs to have all of the facts. I think we need the full picture," Crozier said in a telephone interview.
STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We wanted to find out if there is any impact of reviews of the name Dundas on the local community.