Survey says… this is what Doppler readers think about renaming Highway 60

After Lake of Bays Mayor Bob Young proposed renaming Highway 60 from Highway 11 to the west gate of Algonquin Park as Tom Thomson Parkway, we wanted to know what Doppler readers thought about the initiative.

We invited Doppler readers to share their opinions via an informal, anonymous survey, that allowed only one response per IP address.

There were 173 respondents who accessed the survey and answered the following questions:

Q1: Would you support changing the name of Highway 60?

Of 170 responses to this question, 21.76 per cent like the suggested name Tom Thomson Parkway, 6.47 per cent said they’d support a name change but not in honour of Tom Thomson, and 71.76 per cent said they prefer Highway 60 the way it is.

Q2: If you support the renaming of Highway 60 to Tom Thomson Parkway, why do you want to see the name changed?

Of those who supported the proposed name change, many said it was because of the cultural connection.

Here’s a selection of the comments:

I think it is a very fitting choice because of Thomson’s activity with the Group of Seven in Huntsville and the Park. It’s a much more interesting name than Highway 60.

Because – despite everyone’s belief that our community has had ‘Tom Thomson overload’, I think that his history here, and what came afterwards in terms of the Group of Seven and our own cultural and artistic influences, that it’s worthy. This fad will ‘die’ with his 100th anniversary, but the renaming of the highway will help to keep his legacy alive and will keep Huntsville on the map as a true cultural destination!

Like many named ‘parkways’ I think it reflects the beauty of the area. When people hear ‘names’ opposed to numbers they are more likely to be intrigued to visit or make a historical association.

Just a neat idea!!!

It speaks to the area. If this change confuses you, then probably you shouldn’t be driving! Anyone confused by Veterans Way?

This change would make one of the most beautiful drives through Algonquin even more special. Tom Thompson is a symbol of the Group of Seven and their love for the Canadian north. Pride of place is compelling to us all.

I’m a commercial designer, and I can’t think of a better way to make work for me than to make everyone change their address on all their business and personal signage, large or small!

Q3: If you’d support a name change but would like it to be something else, what would you suggest?

Some respondents would like to see a name change for Highway 60, just not to Tom Thomson Parkway. Many suggested a name that included the word Algonquin.

Here’s some of what respondents suggested:

Muskoka/Algonquin Park Corridor

Algonquin Parkway: acknowledging the provincial park to which the road leads, as well as the ancestral lands on which the road is built.

I would much prefer Captain George Hunt Parkway! Makes WAY more sense than Thomson!!!!

Consider the Lowrie Warrener Parkway. He was an artist of considerable repute (check him out) and a seasonal resident of Huntsville (at Clovelly Point on Lake of Bays) for decades. His works have toured galleries across Canada and are also part of the collection at the McMichael Gallery.

Ciara Thompson-Miss Canada Parkway

One respondent thought it should be put to a vote:

This should be an open/advertised challenge with an honorarium or small prize offered to the person who comes up with the right name. It could be judged by council.

And another approached it with humour:

“Formerly Highway 60” It’s original and a nice compromise – new and different but not totally different – somehow familiar. Yes, I think the name “Formerly Highway 60” has that kinda new yet nostalgic feel to it!

Q4: Anything else you’d like to add about this topic?

Many who opposed the name change spoke up here and said it was because of the potential – and in their view unnecessary – cost of updating signage, or because there are already enough Tom Thomson tributes in the area. Others re-iterated their support for the name change or for an alternative.

Here are some of the additional comments:

Money that could be spent elsewhere, like fixing the roads instead of re-naming them.

STOP with the Thomson madness.

Keep it the way it is. People know the name, just like 400 404,11. Been there too long to change. Hate it when one section of a road called something different, confuses people. Tom would like a lake, river, not road named after him.

This is where we should stop honouring Tom Thomson. I love his work, but we don’t want to make the town seem to be obsessed about one cultural figure.

Yes, Hwy 60 should be renamed since many tourists think the “60” is the speed limit.

Re-pave the darn highway and pave the shoulders for bikes. They talked about making highway 60 four lanes as far as highway 35 a few years back. Did the usual “study” sessions and then the usual “big silence”. If they want to do this while they are fixing the highway that would be good, but please, please, please find a way to bypass Dwight with the four lanes. Squeezing four lanes into the little village will destroy it for anything except maybe a place to blow diesel exhaust!!

If you want to name a road after Tom Thomson might I suggest you rename the section of highway between the West and East gates of Algonquin Park. This is the area that was his inspiration for many of his paintings.

Tom Tomson was a great artist. When I walk our main street I look at his statue and think back to what is short life was like. As a young girl I saw Winnie Trainor on my way to school. Leave highway 60 as highway 60 and rename the portion of the highway that runs through the Park “Tom Thomson Highway.”

This idea is right up there with the $250,000 Rubber Ducky!!

Thomson has been recognized enough throughout the area. He does not deserve the honour. There are many other local individuals who worked hard to develop the Huntsville Dwight areas. Thomson was only a visitor from time to time. We have a statue in town and that is sufficient. Not to mention the eyesore stabbed in the middle of the river down town. In order to come into Huntsville Thomson would have used the railway from Algonquin Park via Kearney. There was no road into Algonquin in the early 1900s. Maintain the the Hwy 60 name. Change the Frank McDougall Parkway in the Park to Tom Thomson Parkway instead.

We think the idea is laudable and support it most strongly.

Thank you to everyone who responded to this survey.

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