Getting Involved
Historically, most residents of Swastika, Ontario do not like it when their town's name gets forcefully changed. The Ontario Government tried to change the name from 'Swastika' to 'Winston' in World War 2. However, the residents of Swastika resisted the change by reinstalling a new Swastika sign with the message: “To hell with Hitler, we came up with our name first.” The name hasn’t changed to this day (McIntyre, 2017).
Even in current times you cannot legally force a name change of places, even if names have developed to have offensive connotations. Courts allowed Ontario township Puslinch, to keep road name of 'Swastika Trail' and has stated that, (Perkel, 2019) “There is no doubt that to many people in Canada in the 21st century, the Swastika is an abhorrent symbol, reminiscent of the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis.” The court said “However, the discrete issue raised on this application is whether council for the Township of Puslinch acted lawfully when it voted not to change the name of the road” (Perkel, 2019). On that point, the court said, the record clearly shows council did not simply defer to the cottagers association but considered various options before deciding as it did (Perkel, 2019).
This precedent means that only the township can change the names of their properties, like how the Township of Russell is changing who their namesake is after voting on it and passing it as a bylaw (Thompson, 2020). In order for the Township of Swastika to change their name, you must convince the township to vote and pass a bylaw to change their name and that bylaw must fulfill the Municipal Act under the section of Change of Name (Municipal Act, 2001). Those conditions are:
Even in current times you cannot legally force a name change of places, even if names have developed to have offensive connotations. Courts allowed Ontario township Puslinch, to keep road name of 'Swastika Trail' and has stated that, (Perkel, 2019) “There is no doubt that to many people in Canada in the 21st century, the Swastika is an abhorrent symbol, reminiscent of the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis.” The court said “However, the discrete issue raised on this application is whether council for the Township of Puslinch acted lawfully when it voted not to change the name of the road” (Perkel, 2019). On that point, the court said, the record clearly shows council did not simply defer to the cottagers association but considered various options before deciding as it did (Perkel, 2019).
This precedent means that only the township can change the names of their properties, like how the Township of Russell is changing who their namesake is after voting on it and passing it as a bylaw (Thompson, 2020). In order for the Township of Swastika to change their name, you must convince the township to vote and pass a bylaw to change their name and that bylaw must fulfill the Municipal Act under the section of Change of Name (Municipal Act, 2001). Those conditions are:
- Change of name
(1) Without limiting sections 9, 10 and 11, those sections authorize a municipality to change its name so long as the new name is not the same as the name of another municipality. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 85.
Conflict
- Notification
- Status unchanged
- Rights, obligations not affected
References
- Perkel, Colin. “Court Allows Ontario Township to Keep Road Name of 'Swastika Trail'.” Penticton Western News, Penticton Western News, 21 June 2019, www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/court-allows-ontario-township-to-keep-road-name-of-swastika-trail/.
- Thompson, Nicole. “Ontario Township Named after Slave Owner Seeks New Namesake.” CTVNews, CTV News, 14 June 2020, www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ontario-township-named-after-slave-owner-seeks-new-namesake-1.4983315.
- “Municipal Act, 2001.” Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, Ontario.ca, 19 Nov. 2018, www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01m25?search=municipal act#BK206.
- McIntyre, Catherine. “Why the Swastika Can't Be Rehabilitated.” Macleans.ca, 16 Sept. 2017, www.macleans.ca/news/why-the-swastika-cant-be-rehabilitated/.