It looks like Swastika Trail is here to stay.
On Aug. 9 councillors heard presentations for and against having a single road name for a continuous road with three names near Puslinch Lake.
First to speak was Joani Horvath with respect to a staff report regarding renaming Swastika Trail.
Horvath brought the topic to council earlier this year.
She stated “a very short road with three road names just doesn’t make sense when emergency services need to find a house.”
Horvath believed it important to avoid confusion at all times.
“Anyone approaching this community comes from Lake Road to Travelled Road, it makes sense to keep Travelled Road throughout.”
She raised concern over potential security and safety issues with the three street names.
“However I am satisfied with the response of Puslinch Fire and Rescue, who stated the current road network and names do not pose a concern with the provision of emergency services.”
Councillor Matthew Bulmer said the initial concerns were about safety, “but if that’s been addressed … is the only part left regarding the convenience of people finding a particular place?”
Councillor Susan Fielding asked if there were specific incident leading to the safety concerns raised.
“No,” said Horvath.
She did however, offer an example of the Red Car service having trouble finding her location.
Councillor John Sepulis asked if there was any choice of road name.
She said Travelled Road would be reasonable.
Paul Wyszynski, a resident of the area for the past 27 years, suggested the safety issue is not the names of the road, but rather poor signage and trees obstructing views of the driving path.
Wyszynski said excessive speeds and the lack of signage lead to his concerns.
He believed additional stop signs are needed to slow drivers down.
Nearby on Highway 401 drivers are travelling at 130km/h while local traffic is supposed to be only 15km/h.
“A lot of people are doing 50km/h.”
Wyszynski offered numerous recommendations, none of which included changing road names.
Lever clarified the topic of the meeting was about the renaming of the road.
Wyszynski believed a ‘no-exit’ sign would deter some of the traffic and signage directing people to McClintock’s restaurant.
He believed there should be additional speed limit signs, or that the signs should be more prominent.
He believed installing all-way stops would also reduce traffic flow.
Wyszynski also asked if someone from the fire department could offer advice regarding tree trimming or road encroachments.
“As to changing the name of the road … it’s been like this for the past 95 years.”
Bulmer suggested leaving the suggestions with the township roads superintendent.
But the costs incurred along the private road would be those of the Bayview Cottagers Association, he said.
Fielding said, regardless of the road name, there are issues along this stretch of road that may need to be addressed.
Area resident Joyce Ward offered both written and verbal response to a News item found in the Wellington Advertiser.
Ward stated she and her husband had lived there for almost 21 years, and it is where his parents lived for about 20 years before that.
“My biggest concern is that political correctness over the last 30 years has trumped heritage,” Ward said.
She stated “the name “Swastika Trail” was applied to this street soon after Ross Barber purchased the property in the 1920s.”
Ward added that a map in a book by Anna Jackson shows Swastika Trail meandering from the westerly edge of what is now the McClintock property, through the beach and across the Bayview subdivision of the time.
“It was a name full of promise, meaning fortunate, having prosperity, well being or good luck!”
Ward stated that if one checked a dictionary or or Wikepedia, that definition would be first and that its first written use has been traced to 6th or 5th century BCE.
“It is associated with what’s known as a Greek cross, or broken cross. That symbol has been found throughout both the old and new worlds.”
Ward said, “only second do definitions note that as early as 1932 The National Socialist Party of Germany, later known as Nazis, took that symbol, and in order to make it their own, reversed the direction of the arms.”
She stated “To those of us born in the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s, that symbol had deep meaning. To the generations born since, neither the word nor the symbol has much effect. When I give my street address, either in person or over the phone, the only response I get now is ‘How do you spell that?’”
If the entire road should have a consistent name, Ward contended it should be called Swastika, to preserve this local history in Canada’s sesquicentennial year.
She noted “in our multiracial, multicultural country, some fellow citizens would welcome an address that suggests good luck and good fortune.”
Ward added, “since there has not yet been one serious incident of a failure of emergency services due to the naming of Bayview’s roads, I suggest that the area be left as it is, so that no one needs to be out of pocket, and the legacy of “The Swastika Beach Ltd. Company,” that continued as a holding company until 1999, be honoured in our history.”
She agreed signage needs to be improved and some of the trees are overgrown.
She believed the Bayview community would work with landowners and the township to make the roads safer.
“I respectfully submit, that you allow the community to remain in its heritage state.”
Council response
“I have a problem naming another road, which is not a township road,” stated councillor Ken Roth.
Travelled Road is the only portion which is a township road – the remaining roads are in private ownership.
As far as the other safety issues raised, Roth believes those warrant further investigation from the fire department plus township and county staff as needed – to make recommendations to the cottage association.
He stated he believes the township will do whatever is needed to bring the municipally-owned road up to standard.
“But as far as getting involved in renaming any of the private roads, I think that it out of our jurisdiction.”
Bulmer said “even as a youth, people called the area Swastika Beach. It’s part of my heritage and I support keeping the name.”
Fielding also did not believe council should get involved in renaming private road or lane names.
She did agreed safety upgrades of the road may be needed.
“I would not support changing the name at this time.”
Sepulis thanked Ward for the history lesson.
He echoed the sentiments of council regarding the renaming as well as recommendations to have staff take a look at the signage.
Mayor Dennis Lever said “this would be a far different scenario is everyone was in support of the renaming the road.”
He further noted Canada Post is working to align mailing addresses from rural routes to civic addresses.
Lever agreed “the community has changed over the years. But it is important to maintain the history associated with it.”
