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Renaming Indian Road

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This review is now complete. On Dec. 16, 2024, Council directed staff to pause any further action until a broader naming convention strategy is developed by the Reconciliation Action Partnership. For more details, please view the staff report.


At the direction of Kitchener City Council, we are undertaking a review of the name of Indian Road for consideration of renaming the street.

The call to rename Indian Road came from the community. Local Indigenous community members brought it to the City’s attention, as well as students from GRCI, the high school on Indian Road. A name change demonstrates real action towards Indigenous reconciliation. It is in line with the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s direction to recognize the enduring impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples – and the negative impacts the discriminatory display of names and images has on individuals and groups.

New name options will be identified by local Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. You will have the opportunity to rank those names in order of preference. We expect to present a staff report to Kitchener City Council with a name recommendation. If approved, when the new name comes into effect all affected residents and businesses will be given advanced notice to plan for the change.

We welcome contributions to the renaming of Indian Road from Indian Road residents, property owners, and business owners, students and staff at Grand River Collegiate Institute (GRCI) and members of the Indigenous community.

Please also subscribe for email updates by using the ‘Stay Informed’ button.

At the direction of Kitchener City Council, we are undertaking a review of the name of Indian Road for consideration of renaming the street.

The call to rename Indian Road came from the community. Local Indigenous community members brought it to the City’s attention, as well as students from GRCI, the high school on Indian Road. A name change demonstrates real action towards Indigenous reconciliation. It is in line with the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s direction to recognize the enduring impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples – and the negative impacts the discriminatory display of names and images has on individuals and groups.

New name options will be identified by local Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. You will have the opportunity to rank those names in order of preference. We expect to present a staff report to Kitchener City Council with a name recommendation. If approved, when the new name comes into effect all affected residents and businesses will be given advanced notice to plan for the change.

We welcome contributions to the renaming of Indian Road from Indian Road residents, property owners, and business owners, students and staff at Grand River Collegiate Institute (GRCI) and members of the Indigenous community.

Please also subscribe for email updates by using the ‘Stay Informed’ button.

This review is now complete. On Dec. 16, 2024, Council directed staff to pause any further action until a broader naming convention strategy is developed by the Reconciliation Action Partnership. For more details, please view the staff report.


  • Invitation to participate in engagement

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    The following text was mailed to all residents and property owners of Indian Road in late May 2022:

    Earlier this year, the City of Kitchener began a review of the name of Indian Road, at the request of local Indigenous community members as well as a group of engaged students at Grand River Collegiate Institute. A name change would be in line with the Ontario Human Rights Commission direction to recognize the enduring impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples and the negative impacts the discriminatory display of names and images has on individuals and groups.

    As part of the review process, the City is looking to engage with all residents and business/property owners situated on Indian Road, as well as the Waterloo Region District School Board, staff and students from Grand River Collegiate Institute, and members of local Indigenous communities to inform next steps.

    As a resident or business/property owner situated on Indian Road, you are invited to participate in in-person or online engagement on this project.

    You can attend any of the following in-person engagement sessions:

    • Saturday, June 4 - Grand River Collegiate Institute, 2-4 p.m.
    • Wednesday, June 8 - Grand River Collegiate Institute, 5-7 p.m.


    Each engagement session is an opportunity for you to learn more about the review process, share your ideas and feedback, and build your understanding of the importance of Indigenous Reconciliation. Drop in anytime during the hours listed above.

    Transparency is a key component of this project. To ensure that all residents and business/property owners have multiple opportunities to be involved in each phase of the review and decision-making process, you are also invited to join the Indian Road Renaming project page on Engage Kitchener.

    Please use this link to visit the project page: www.engagewr.ca/IndianRoad

    On the project page, you will be able to learn more about the review process, complete our online survey, share personal reflections or ask questions, and receive regular updates on this project, including future engagement opportunities taking place this fall.

    Following the engagement process, a report with recommendations will go to Kitchener City Council for consideration later in 2022.

    To learn more about this project ahead of the scheduled in-person engagement sessions, please review the Q&A attached.

    If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me directly.

    I look forward to connecting with you during one of our upcoming engagement sessions or online.

    Sincerely,

    Darren Kropf

    Active Transportation Project Manager, City of Kitchener

  • Students and staff host feast to reflect on renaming process

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    Students, teachers and city staff shared a meal together in early May with Indigenous elders to exchange gifts, foster relationships and talk about the journey ahead for renaming Indian Road.