Ottawa is finally moving to rename Trump Avenue, a small residential street in the city's south end that has drawn renewed attention amid strained Canada-U.S. relations.
City council has approved starting the formal process to replace the street's name, according to @shottawa.tv on Instagram. River Ward Coun. Riley Brockington, who previously pushed for the change, is expected to lead consultations with residents before a new name is selected.
A Second Attempt
This isn't the first time Ottawa has looked at renaming the street. An earlier push in 2021 did not move forward, leaving Trump Avenue's name unchanged even as calls to revisit it persisted. This latest council approval marks a fresh start on the process, though the timeline for consultations and a final decision has not been set.
What Happens Next
With council's approval to begin the process, the next steps will involve Coun. Brockington working with residents on the street to gather input. Renaming a street in Ottawa typically involves notifying affected property owners, consulting the community, and running the choice past the city's committee process before anything becomes official. Given how the 2021 effort stalled, residents and council watchers will be looking to see whether this round actually reaches a final vote.
No new name has been chosen yet. @shottawa.tv's post posed the question to followers directly, asking what Ottawa should rename the street to, a question that's likely to keep circulating locally as the consultation process gets underway.
Why It's Happening Now
Street renamings tied to political figures aren't unique to Ottawa. Cities across Canada and the U.S. have grappled with similarly named streets, parks and buildings as political sentiment shifts. For Ottawa, a small street bearing the name of a sitting U.S. president has become a point of local conversation, especially as Canada-U.S. relations have been a recurring news topic.
Ottawa residents interested in weighing in on a new name will likely get the chance once Coun. Brockington's office opens up consultations. In the meantime, the street keeps its current name, and its future one remains an open question for the neighbourhood to help answer.
Source: @shottawa.tv on Instagram
