WATCH: The neighbourhood bordered by three separate rail lines held a contest five years ago to come up with an official name. Mark McAllister reports.
TORONTO – The neighbourhood bordered by three separate rail lines in Toronto’s west-end is marking five years of officially being known as the Junction Triangle.
A community group called ‘Fuzzy Boundaries’ came up with the name after a contest was held asking residents and business owners to better identify the neighbourhood.
“A name like Junction Triangle came up in the 70’s but fell out of use,” contest organizer Kevin Putnam said. “Newcomers to the neighbourhood at the time didn’t know anything about it. History gets lost quickly I guess.”
Most of the area is north of Bloor St., south of Dupont St., west of Lansdowne Ave., and east of Dundas St. West.
Its history is tied to industry, including paint and chemical factories. Many in the area still consider an old GE water tower at one end of Wallace Ave. a landmark. At the other end is the foot bridge crossing over the rail line to Dundas St. West.
Today, the neighbourhood has attracted developers and a number of the buildings that once housed some of that industry have been converted into residential and office spaces.
A mix of old and new businesses now line Dupont St., including Boo Radley’s Bar & Grill just down the street from the Cafe Con Leche espresso bar.
“We’re in the Junction Triangle. People want us to get that right,” owner Sandra Desilva said. “I find it to be very friendly, very down to earth, very connected. So when something’s going on, you know about it.”
Those in the community are quick to point out that it’s not “The Junction.” That area is on the “other side of the tracks” to the west.
Before the new moniker was announced in March 2010, more than 200 names were suggested and had been written in chalk along the West Toronto rail path.
“The need to identify creates this sense of unity,” Putnam said. “People take ownership and then it becomes a place that people have a positive affinity for.”
Some of the other names suggested include Perth Park, Black Oak Triangle, East Junction, The Wedge and The Triangle.
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