Toronto Concord Park Place: Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Community Centre | 18.9m | 4s | City of Toronto | MJMA

June 1, 2021

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2 years ago, Councillor Shelly Carroll managed to rename Woodsy Park to Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Park and Woodsy Lane to Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Lane.
Ethennonnhawahstihnen' (pronounced Etta-nonna wasti-nuh) means "where they had a good, beautiful life" in Wendat

In about a month, the following will become official,.... @mods might want to start changing the name in the title now, so @mods would finish typing by the time it's official!
- Bessarion Community Centre will be renamed Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Community Recreation Centre
- Bessarion Public Library will be renamed Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Public Library
 
2 years ago, Councillor Shelly Carroll managed to rename Woodsy Park to Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Park and Woodsy Lane to Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Lane.
Ethennonnhawahstihnen' (pronounced Etta-nonna wasti-nuh) means "where they had a good, beautiful life" in Wendat

In about a month, the following will become official,.... @mods might want to start changing the name in the title now, so @mods would finish typing by the time it's official!
- Bessarion Community Centre will be renamed Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Community Recreation Centre
- Bessarion Public Library will be renamed Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Public Library
Got to say, at least the Wendat name is shorter than the English translation.
Here's a shot of the street sign.
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But I think people who will be using this facility (those in the neighbourhood) will likely refer to it as the swimming pool/library "near the IKEA" and "behind Bessarion station".
 
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How does one even pronounce that name?

People will come up with an abbreviation like Ethennonn
 
How does one even pronounce that name?

People will come up with an abbreviation like Ethennonn
It's pronounced Etta-nonna wasti-nuh according to sunnyraytoronto-san.

The name has always been a little absurd in its length and challenge to pronounce. Nothing wrong with an indigenous name, just not this one.
...kinda reminds when someone was showing me names of departments and such in Germany with absurdly long titles that look more like a run on sentence than a name. So this is nothing compared to that, lol.
 
It's pronounced Etta-nonna wasti-nuh according to sunnyraytoronto-san.


...kinda reminds when someone was showing me names of departments and such in Germany with absurdly long titles that look more like a run on sentence than a name. So this is nothing compared to that, lol.
That's how the German language's structured. The majority there will have no problem with it (transcribing and/or pronouncing) because that's what they speak.
They could have chosen a shorter Wendat name here. Not sure why they decide to go with a name that is a phrase.
 
That's how the German language's structured. The majority there will have no problem with it (transcribing and/or pronouncing) because that's what they speak.
They could have chosen a shorter Wendat name here. Not sure why they decide to go with a name that is a phrase.
So the same with our indigenous populations then. We may just have to get used to that too. /shrug
 
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Today, North York Community Council voted to name a new City of Toronto community recreation centre and library for the Wendat word Ethennonnhawahstihnen’. Once opened, it will become the first City community recreation centre and library branch in Toronto to be named in collaboration with the Huron-Wendat Nation.

The Wendat word Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ (pronounced Etta-nonna wasti-nuh) means “where they had a good, beautiful life” and was first suggested by the Huron-Wendat Nation for the nearby park and lane. The location, near Bayview and Sheppard Avenues in North York, is adjacent to a significant Huron-Wendat archaeological site where findings showed that inhabitants lived long and healthy lives in relative peace.

The new, multi-use facility is under construction at 100 Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Ln., located within the Concord Park Place community that will be home to 10,000 residents across 20 residential towers when the development is completed. The facility, currently scheduled to open in early 2023, will include a community recreation centre, a new Toronto Public Library (TPL) branch and a childcare centre.

In October 2019, North York Community Council approved renaming the street and adjacent park (formerly called “Woodsy”) to Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Lane and Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Park. Public consultations at the time showed strong support for the renaming which was considered a meaningful recognition and Indigenous placemaking, as well as a step towards the advancement of reconciliation.

Staff from the City and TPL explored extending this name to the new facility with the Huron-Wendat Nation as a means of building upon and deepening the community efforts and engagement undertaken to commemorate the importance of this site. The City and TPL have also communicated with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation about these efforts and presented this work to the City of Toronto Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee on January 14, where the name was endorsed. The Huron-Wendat Nation wrote to the City in support of the name, and stressed the importance and meaning in the giving of names in their tradition. .

Staff from the City and TPL are currently working with the Huron-Wendat Nation on a plan to commission Indigenous public artwork and historical and cultural interpretative content at the new site as a further placemaking effort.

The City recognizes that Indigenous placemaking and reconciliation does not end with a name and is committed to working with Indigenous communities to explore further opportunities for Indigenous placemaking, placekeeping and programming at this new facility, and elsewhere.

Read the full report, Name of Forthcoming Community Recreation Centre and Library at 100 Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Lane.
 
Feb 27
More up on my site
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