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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.

Share your reflections on reconciliation

The renaming of Indian Road is an opportunity for us all to reflect on reconciliation. We invite you to share written comments, photos and videos with your reflections. 

Here are some guiding questions:

  1. What have you learned about reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples?
  2. How are you personally committed to reconciliation? 
  3. What questions or struggles are you wrestling with?

This section of the page will stay open until the end of this project, so you can add additional reflections as you learn more about reconciliation through the renaming process.  

Before you post, please read our moderation policy.

Thank you for sharing your reflections with us.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Reconciliation on Facebook Share Reconciliation on Twitter Share Reconciliation on Linkedin Email Reconciliation link

    Reconciliation

    by L. Campbell, over 2 years ago

    I have always been interested in history and the truth and reconciliation movement, and when the chance arose to be a part of a step towards improvement, I was ready to take it. I was invited to play a bigger role in the renaming of Indian Road due to my interest in my Indigenous literature course earlier this year, for which I am very grateful. I am not Indigenous, but I see this issue as one that indirectly affects me, as well. My family, my friends - everyone I know can play their part in resolving world issues, such as... Continue reading

  • Share The Role of the Historian on Facebook Share The Role of the Historian on Twitter Share The Role of the Historian on Linkedin Email The Role of the Historian link

    The Role of the Historian

    by S. Gingrich, over 2 years ago

    I am a teacher at Grand River Collegiate Institute, who has been teaching history for 30 years in the Waterloo Region District School Board. One experience that opened my eyes to a reality in this country that I had seldom been discussing with my students was made evident when former prime minister Paul Martin paid a visit to our school some years ago. He shared an interesting reflection at our school assembly about his travels internationally. He indicated that when he visited other countries and raised concerns from Canadian citizens about human rights abuses there, he encountered foreign governments and... Continue reading

  • Share My Reflections on Reconciliation on Facebook Share My Reflections on Reconciliation on Twitter Share My Reflections on Reconciliation on Linkedin Email My Reflections on Reconciliation link

    My Reflections on Reconciliation

    by Celina Rodriguez, over 2 years ago

    Throughout my time being a Grade 11 student in the Indigenous Literacy Course, I have learned a great deal about reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

    I had the privilege to discuss and read Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga; a piece of journalism written about the seven Indigenous students who had passed away in Thunder Bay. The whole book was eye-opening. It taught me things that I would've never learnt otherwise. As an example, I learned that Indigenous students today in Thunder Bay get 2000-3000 dollars less than non-Indigenous students in Canada. Learning about information like this and about... Continue reading

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    Steps Toward Reconciliation

    by Kathy Do, over 2 years ago

    While in the Indigenous based English course, NBE 3UI, I have been focusing on the topic of renaming institutions, schools, and road names that are based off derogatory or offensive names for my journalism assignment. I have researched a lot about the renaming of the formerly Ryerson University and the steps toward that. I do believe that it may not be a definite solution to the many Indigenous issues that are present, but it is a great first step towards reconciliation. In this course, we have also dug deeper into residential schools. Learning about all the devastating events that occurred... Continue reading

  • Share "The best way to help us is just to listen..." - Eddy Robinson on Facebook Share "The best way to help us is just to listen..." - Eddy Robinson on Twitter Share "The best way to help us is just to listen..." - Eddy Robinson on Linkedin Email "The best way to help us is just to listen..." - Eddy Robinson link

    "The best way to help us is just to listen..." - Eddy Robinson

    by Ben Riche, over 2 years ago

    I am a teacher here at GRCI and have been for around 16 years. I have also been fortunate enough to teach grade 11 English over the last two school years with a complete focus on the voices of Indigenous people. As part of that course, students read nonfiction, poetry, short stories, and novels all by Indigenous authors who live in Canada. By reading and teaching the stories of Indigenous people, I feel like I've learned a great deal but I still have so much to learn.

    I'm a non-Indigenous person running a course completely focused on what Indigenous people... Continue reading

  • Share Reflections on Reconciliation on Facebook Share Reflections on Reconciliation on Twitter Share Reflections on Reconciliation on Linkedin Email Reflections on Reconciliation link

    Reflections on Reconciliation

    by Molly Buitenhuis, over 2 years ago

    My reconciliation journey started in grade 10 history when my teacher challenged the class to think about the name of Indian Road. Many of us responded with ideas and opinions about cultural appropriation and a class letter was created. My main contribution was to articulate the thoughts in our letter to the media. I appeared on CBC News radio and on the Morning Edition with Craig Norris. I was on TV for a CTV News story, and was live on the Mike Farwell show (AM 570). I was also featured in the Waterloo Region Record newspaper. Although it was nerve... Continue reading

  • Share The beginning of my chapter in recognizing and contributing towards truth and reconciliation for the Indigenous People of Canada. on Facebook Share The beginning of my chapter in recognizing and contributing towards truth and reconciliation for the Indigenous People of Canada. on Twitter Share The beginning of my chapter in recognizing and contributing towards truth and reconciliation for the Indigenous People of Canada. on Linkedin Email The beginning of my chapter in recognizing and contributing towards truth and reconciliation for the Indigenous People of Canada. link

    The beginning of my chapter in recognizing and contributing towards truth and reconciliation for the Indigenous People of Canada.

    by Chiharu Sanada-Williams, over 2 years ago

    Throughout my time in high school, I have been exposed to the deeper reality of the discrimination Indigenous people face in our society. Now completing my senior year, I am grateful that I have been able to participate in events/initiatives where I can further educate myself on this important topic. Starting back in grade 9, I was confused about why they would name a road (especially surrounding two public schools) “Indian Road”. Moving into the pandemic in grade 11, I was able to enroll in the Indigenous Literature course as an addition to my University level courses. Some of the... Continue reading