Trump Avenue: A Name in Question

Debate has resumed in Ottawa over renaming Trump Avenue, a residential street in the Central Park neighbourhood. Councillor Riley Brockington says he intends to launch a community discussion during the first months of the new city council’s term. He called the continued presence of the name in Canada’s capital “an embarrassment.”

The street was created in the late 1990s, when Donald Trump was known mainly as a New York businessman and real estate developer. Its name reflected the neighbourhood’s broader theme: nearby streets include Manhattan Crescent, Staten Way, Madison Park and Bloomingdale Street.

An attempt to change the name was made in 2021. Property owners split evenly, with 21 voting in favour and 21 against, while 20 households did not respond. The proposal therefore failed to secure enough support.

Brockington now plans to revisit the issue. Under current municipal rules, a standard street-renaming application requires the approval of at least 75 per cent plus one of the affected property owners. The proposal must then proceed through the City of Ottawa’s official review process.

A new name would involve more than replacing street signs. Residents of approximately 62 homes would need to update mailing addresses, documents and account information. The community would also have to select a replacement acceptable to most neighbours—possibly one that preserves the area’s New York theme.

What do you think: should Trump Avenue be renamed, or should its existing name remain?

Sources: CTV News, City of Ottawa