New naming rules aim to reflect community, culture, and growth in Kawartha Lakes

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: A refreshed approach, to how streets, parks, and municipal facilities are named, is moving one step closer to adoption, with committee backing for a policy update, designed to reflect growth, inclusivity, and community input.

During a Committee of the Whole meeting, on April 7th, members reviewed a report, from Deputy Clerk Joel Watts, outlining proposed updates to the City’s Street, Municipal Facility and Park Naming Policy. The recommendation was approved and will now head to the next regular council meeting for final consideration.

The policy provides the framework for naming new and existing public spaces, as well as maintaining a master list of approved names. According to the report, the updates are part of a broader review of council policies, conducted each term, to ensure they remain current and effective.

“These updates are largely about clarity and flexibility,” Mr. Watts said, during the discussion. “We’re making sure the policy reflects how naming requests actually come forward today, while also opening the door to broader community participation.”

Among the proposed changes is an expansion of the Master Name List nomination process, allowing for a wider range of submissions. Community organizations, such as chambers of commerce, Royal Canadian Legion branches, and Indigenous communities would be able to submit names in bulk, alongside municipal staff and council committees.

“We’re trying to make it easier for groups to contribute meaningful names which reflect local heritage and identity,” Mr. Watts noted.

The revised policy would also allow names drawn from Native Ontario flora and fauna, a move seen as both educational and reflective of the region’s natural environment. Additional updates aim to strengthen language, tied to Indigenous reconciliation initiatives.

“We’ve made several amendments, to improve how Indigenous perspectives and recognition are incorporated,” Mr. Watts added. “That’s an important piece of this work.”

Other changes include permitting the use of full names, for streets where both first and last names may already exist separately, as well as allowing non-possessive apostrophes in names, such as O’Brien, bringing local standards in line with more common naming conventions.

Developers of larger subdivisions could also gain more flexibility under the proposed rules. The policy would allow them to select names outside the approved master list, for up to 25 percent of streets in a development, a change aimed at supporting neighbourhood branding.

“That’s something we’ve heard consistently from the development community,” Mr. Watts said. “It gives them some creative input, while still maintaining overall consistency.”

The update also introduces clearer rules around renaming existing streets, parks, and facilities: including restrictions during municipal election periods. Under the proposal, renaming decisions would be deferred, until after a new council is seated, easing administrative pressures and ensuring decisions are made by incoming representatives.

The staff report emphasized the changes are largely administrative and do not carry financial implications.

Council members expressed support for the revisions, pointing to the balance between structure and flexibility.

“This is a comprehensive update which modernizes the policy without losing sight of the need for consistency,” Councillor Mike Perry remarked. “It’s about making sure names reflect who we are as a community.”

If approved at an upcoming council meeting, the updated policy will replace all previous versions and be formally incorporated into the municipality’s policy manual.