Street name change ahead of Portuguese monument replica construction coming to Brampton

City councillors are asking for a commemorative street renaming in Brampton ahead of the construction of a replica Portuguese monument.

First built in 1783, the Ponta Delgada city gates are three arches in the Portuguese city of Ponta Delgada that marked the entrance to the city and served as a landing for boats coming in from the sea.

Community group Portas Da Cidade Azores-Canada is working with the City of Brampton to build a replica of the City Gates of Ponta Delgada at Azores Park, located at 100 Malta Ave.

But area councillors are asking the city to rename a stretch of Malta Avenue to Portugal Way before the monument is constructed to “honour the contributions of Brampton’s Portuguese community in a meaningful way.”

A motion from Coun. Martin Medeiros, seconded by Councillors Paul Vicente and Dennis Keenan and going to Brampton City Council on Wednesday, will request the commemorative street naming.

The monument project is entirely community-driven with no financial impact to the city, according to a city report.

“The monument is intended as a community-funded initiative recognizing the cultural heritage, identity and contributions of the Portuguese and Azorean community in Brampton,” the report reads.

If approved by Brampton City Council, staff would set up a land licence agreement with PCAC, with conditions that all costs and responsibilities associated with “the design, engineering, fabrication, installation, insurance, maintenance and lifecycle stewardship of the monument remain with PCAC.”

The project was proposed ahead of the upcoming changes to the city’s Monuments and Memorials Framework. The updated proposal will require approval from Brampton City Council.