Name of major street to be changed in downtown core of Mississauga

Efforts are underway to quickly rename a major street in the downtown core of Mississauga as city officials seek to cut all symbolic ties with England’s disgraced former prince, Andrew.

Mississauga city council will deal with a motion next Wednesday that calls for Duke of York Boulevard to have its name changed as soon as possible.

Should the motion pass, City of Mississauga staff will be tasked to remove the name and “immediately begin the process to rename the road following policy guidelines for naming city assets.”

The city would “consult with Indigenous representatives, community organizations, local residents and the broader public to identify and recommend a new name that reflects Mississauga’s diversity, inclusivity and shared values,” the motion reads.

Finally, staff would be directed to report back to council by next Feb. 22 with recommendations for a new name, including a preferred option, in addition to other details such as estimated costs associated with the plan.

Duke of York Boulevard, located just east of both city hall and the Living Arts Centre, was named for Andrew — now the former prince and duke — shortly after he and his wife at the time, Sarah Ferguson, visited the city on July 18, 1987 to help with the official opening of the Mississauga Civic Centre (city hall).

View from above of Duke of York Boulevard in Mississauga’s City Centre area.

Now, nearly four decades and a number of sex-related allegations and controversies later, talk of changing the name of Duke of York Boulevard surfaced again last week at Mississauga city council.

Two weeks ago, Buckingham Palace announced the process of removing Andrew’s “style, titles and honours” had been initiated as part of the latest fallout from his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019.

Today, the 65-year-old brother of King Charles III and son of the late Queen Elizabeth II is known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. In addition to losing an array of royal and military titles, and other privileges, Andrew was also tossed out of his former 30-room home, Royal Lodge, a couple of week ago.

The motion to be considered by council next week also calls for the permanent removal of plaques at Mississauga city hall that mark Andrew’s role in its 1987 opening in addition to “any other references or honours to the former prince across Mississauga’s public spaces.”

Association with former prince “undermines the city’s reputation”

In its preamble, the motion suggests the renaming of Duke of York Boulevard is the correct route to take given Andrew “has in recent years been the subject of serious allegations and controversies inconsistent with (Mississauga’s) values.”

Furthermore, “the association of a prominent public roadway with an individual whose conduct has been widely criticized undermines the city’s reputation and may cause distress or offence to survivors, residents and visitors,” the motion’s preamble reads.

Mayor Carolyn Parrish raised the matter at city council on Nov. 5 during discussion related to the naming of city buildings, streets and other assets.

She informally suggested renaming the downtown Mississauga street “York Boulevard.”

Parrish said the allegations and issues surrounding Andrew “… are quite obvious and I think more are coming out, so I’d like us to get our heads around that and talk to the right people to see if we can change that one.”

Meanwhile, co-chairs of the Peel Human Trafficking Service Providers Committee have sent a letter to the city urging council to “take decisive action” and rename Duke of York Boulevard.

Formed in 2015, the committee is comprised of more than 40 organizations from across Peel and the Greater Toronto Area that work to combat human trafficking.

Back in 2022, shortly after Andrew had his royal duties and military titles taken from him, Mississauga city councillors at the time spoke about changing the Duke of York Boulevard name. However, nothing came of that discussion.

Duke of York Boulevard runs from Webb Drive, just south of Burnhamthorpe Road West, north to Centre View Drive to the immediate south of Highway 403.