One of the most famous streets in Canada is Yonge Street in Toronto. It’s named in honour of Sir George Yonge, a member of the British cabinet in 1793.
Yonge Street was a military road from Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe planned by Colonel John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada from 1791-1796. It opened on January 29, 1796, and provided a route to Penetanguishene, a naval base on Lake Huron.
Another well-known thoroughfare in Toronto is Dundas Street. It was also a military road, which Simcoe hoped to build all the way from Detroit to Kingston, Ontario. In those days, Detroit belonged to Britain, which was at war with France.. Simcoe, convinced that the United States would help France by attacking Canada, built Yonge and Dundas Streets to enable him to move troops quickly to strategic points.
He was so sure the United States would attack that he moved the capital of Upper Canada from Niagara to Toronto which was farther away from the American border. There was no settlement in Toronto then, except the remains of old French Fort Rouille, built in 1749. Simcoe did not like the Indian name “Toronto” and changed it to “York” to commemorate the Duke of York’s victories in Flanders. It was changed back to Toronto when it became a city in March 1834.
Simcoe’s activities might have brought the United States into war against Britain in 1794. Acting on instructions from Lord Dorchester, Governor-in-Chief of British North America, Simcoe built Fort Miami near Toledo, Ohio. Its purpose was to prevent the Americans from marching on Detroit. The British Government was horrified because it did not want to be involved in a war with the United States as well as France. Detroit and other posts were returned to the United States on June 1, 1796.
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I prefer a native name Toronto than York. It makes more sense for Canada.
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Yes, I agree!
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When I began my genealogy work and realized all the connections through Britain, Canada, and the US–it became abundantly clear to me I need to have a better appreciation for our shared histories! Good Post!
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It’s easy to take situations for granted, isn’t it? Our past is not always blatantly obvious. 🙂
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That corner has meant a lot to me over the years. I hung out there as a badly behaved teen, went to Ryerson right behind there and had one of my firsts apartments on the next block during the 80s. But I barely recognize it now. Not sure if I love it or not. Maybe I’m just an old fuddy-duddy now who longs for the days when Yonge Street was blocked to traffic during the summers, from Bloor down to Wellington.
http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/03/the_story_of_the_first_yonge_street_pedestrian_mall/#
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Wow, it sure has changed a lot, eh? I think “fuddy-duddy” is normal, ’cause I feel the same about where I’ve spent my youth, too 🙂
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