Comment 207 – comments and feedback
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Russell Hill
I submit the following comments for consideration by the commission:
Since 1855, when a post office was first granted, the region centred by the area between the east and west branches of the Don River, in the county of York, now The City of Toronto, has been known as Willowdale. My family has lived in the Willowdale community since 1955. The name Willowdale identifies our community.
On Map 12 of the newspaper insert, the electoral district we now fall into is called "Bayview-Finch". The name "Willowdale" has disappeared and the community has been split between "York-Centre" and "Bayview-Finch". In our case, "Bayview-Finch" is just the intersection of two roads, it is not the centre of a community.
I understand the need to create electoral districts of similar populations, and I understand the challenges in doing so as population changes with real estate developments. Please understand that people vote for candidates to represent them as members of a community. If you remove their community identity, you are creating a disincentive to vote.
The longer term solution is to create an additional electoral district. For now, I suggest replacing the "Bayview-Finch" name with "Willowdale".
I also suggest that the western boundary of "Bayview-Finch" (Willowdale) south of Sheppard Avenue West be extended to the West branch of the Don River.
Russell Hill