One of the intentions of NorthRonces.com is to direct attention beyond the mental and legal boundaries that constitute the Roncesvalles Business Improvement Area (RBIA) which officially ends at Hewitt Ave. on the north end and Galley Ave. on the south. The expanse of Roncesvalles and Dundas West between Hewitt and Bloor has generally been considered something of a commercial and community dead zone, one of those stretches of well-travelled thoroughfare familiar to most Torontonians (south Bathurst comes to mind). These areas are characterized by heavy traffic, predominantly rental housing, transient businesses and a generally less inviting, less loved feel. And this despite the existence of strong residential neighbourhoods just behind the uninviting commuter facade. In the case of North Ronces and Dundas West, however, there have always been a few strong businesses and lately there have been even more signs of renewal.

In my opinion, any account of Dundas West and Roncesvalles must begin with De Francesca Men’s Hair Stylists (2231 Dundas Street West) where brothers Joe & Palmo cut hair while chatting about society, Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Italian soccer. Aparita Bhandari has written a slice of life portrait of Joe and Palmo’s barber shop.

Macklem’s Baby Carriages & Toys (2223 Dundas St. West) has been in the neighborhood since–wait for it–45 years. The Ranger family has traversed the evolutionary path from covered prams to the current all-terrain, SUV, baby strollers. The selection of baby stuff here will surprise you.

Fast becoming an institution in its own right, Hugh’s Room (2261 Dundas St West) has provided live folk and roots music, as well as fine dining, since 2001. The list of established acts that have performed at Hugh’s is impressive.

Steven R. Smith Restoration (476 Roncesvalles Ave.) has also been around for a number of years and has more recently added a storefront showroom. Steven restores old furniture and antiques and also builds elegant custom furniture which, frankly, looks better than most actual antiques. You have to check it out.

Cheryl McCarron has just opened an English as a second language bookstore appropriately called the ESL Shop (2233 Dundas St. West). Cheryl is in the process of setting up her web site so ESL teachers and students will be able to purchase from her online.

And these are just a few of the enterprises that contribute to the life of North Ronces. As residents of the community we have to remember that North Ronces does not end at Hewitt.

Now we just need the Loblaws/Zellers complex to recreate itself so that it respects the life of the street as an integral part of a sense of place and community. As it is, the Loblaws parking lot acts as a black hole absorbing Dundas West into its vehicular nothingness. Wouldn’t it be great if Loblaws fronted Dundas West and parking was either behind or underneath the building? It would also be a perfect place to locate a LCBO Liquor Store, would it not? Of course it would.

It appears that the drive to co-name at least a part of Roncesvalles Avenue “Pope Jean Paul II Boulevard” is beginning to lose momentum. Not only have most of the public comments solicited by Ward 14 City Councillor Sylvia Watson been against the proposed change (80%) but there is a rumor that even the leaders of the Canadian Catholic Church have some reservations. I would suggest, however, that you continue to let Councillor Watson know where you stand on the proposal until a final decision is made.

The issue of renaming Roncesvalles Village “Little Poland” in the manner of Little Italy, et al, is still on the burner although the efforts that the Roncesvalles Business Improvement Area (BIA) have put into branding the street “Roncesvalles Village” in Toronto’s collective imagination seem to preclude the change being made in an uncontested manner.

Proponents of these two initaitives can take solace, however, in the fact that the annual Roncesvalles open street festival has indeed been renamed the Polish Festival. It appears that the astonishing turn out for the Pope John Paul II memorial not only moved the decision-makers on a human level but suggested that Toronto’s Polish diaspora, both in Roncesvalles Village and in Toronto’s surrounding suburbs, would offer a boost to the neighbourhood that the more inclusively named Harvest Festival would not. Now this decision seems to be based on sentiment, the success of the memorial and the strong sponsorship response from the Polish business community rather than any hard demographic numbers, but, it is not unreasonable that Roncesvalles celebrate in some way its debt to the Polish community that helped put it on the map.

To clarify NorthRonces.com’s position on the first two issues I include our own letter to Councillor Watson:

Dear Sylvia,

As long time residents, business owners and citizens of Ward 14, we would like to express our opposition to renaming a part of Roncesvalles Avenue after the late Pope John Paul II. As you are aware, the Roncesvalles-Parkdale area is home to many different religious and cultural identities and naming the street in honour of one particular religion and its socially conservative leader is inappropriate. The Catholic Church’s rigid anti-condom stance has exacerbated the AIDS crisis in Africa, and, under Pope John Paul II’s leadership the Vatican has referred to gays and lesbians as “sinners” and “intrinsically evil.” The name Pope John Paul II does not, therefore, signify the same thing to everyone.

On another issue that has produced new rumblings, we also oppose the city officially renaming the area “Little Poland.” Again, local diversity is the issue. It is our position that the designation “Little Poland” does not accurately represent the variety of businesses that are opening up on Roncesvalles everyday. Few of the new shops and restaurants are specifically Polish in ownership or intention. Outside of the numerous deli’s and a few restaurants, the Polish profile is, as far as we can tell, actually declining from the heights of the 1980s. Many of the older, Polish-run businesses are closing when their owners retire. Calling the area “Little Poland” would conjure an inaccurate picture of what is truly happening on the street, perhaps to the detriment of the non-Polish businesses in attracting people and custom from outside the neighbourhood.

It is unfortunate that these two proposals are gaining currency at the same time. We fear that rejecting both may give the appearance of an anti-Polish sentiment. That is the furthest from the truth. There is no doubt that part of Roncesvalles charm and authenticity is the residual Polish presence. But Roncesvalles is now a mixed neighbourhood, both Polish and not Polish, and we believe it is this hybrid character that makes the area a vibrant and attractive place to live today. “Roncesvalles” or “Roncesvalles Village” is a distinctive enough name for this wonderful and diverse community and already serves as an unofficial brand that is recognized citywide. It does not need to be renamed.

Sincerely,

NorthRonces.com