I'm a Toronto resident who deeply cares about the community and the symbols that represent us. It personally troubles me that Dundas Street in our city is named after Henry Dundas, who delayed the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, causing suffering for millions of people. The portion of this information is reaffirmed from the historical records of the Scottish Slave Trade (Douglas Hamilton, 2005). Toronto is a city known for its diversity, inclusivity, and respect for human rights. Keeping Dundas' name alive in our streets is not compatible with these values.

Therefore, I propose renaming Dundas St West to Stacey Street. Unlike Dundas, Stacey represents a positive image and does not carry with it the heavy, painful burden of our history. It's a name that would symbolize progress and respect for all - the values that Toronto embodies. Moreover, it is well-known that symbols and names of streets have a profound impact on our collective public consciousness (Howell, P., 2009). By changing this one street's name, we are taking a small but important step forward towards eliminating symbols that remind us of an oppressive past.

We are the ones who can make this change possible. Let's rename Dundas St West to Stacey Street. Show your support – sign this petition.