East Gwillimbury (EG) approves all street names for roads within the town. Requests for street names can be made through the online street name application, but must follow the Street Naming Policy.

Street Name Application Form

Street naming policy guidelines

The Street Naming Policy can be requested in full by contacting the Planning Branch. 

When nominating a street name, applicants may specify which community is most appropriate for assignment of the name (i.e., the name of a Veteran who lived in Queensville may be reserved for the Queensville Community).

All street names should fit into one of these categories:

  • Names of individuals or groups in honour of their outstanding community service or historic significance
  • Outstanding Canadians or local veterans and heroes
  • Natural features and botanical names
  • Historic references
  • Miscellaneous
Procedure for Nominating a Municipal Street Name
  • Any person including member of Council, Town Staff and Advisory Committees can make a request to add a name to the Street Name Inventory.
  • The request shall be submitted to the Planning Branch along with the Street Name Application included in Appendix 1. Application forms must include a complete explanation of the reasons for the nomination of the proposed name(s) and which of the categories in Section 7.0 of this policy the proposed name fits.
  • Planning Staff will review the application for conformity to the criteria outlined in Section 8.0 of this policy and complete one of the following actions:
    • If the proposed name/explanation does not meet the Town’s criteria, the applicant will be advised in writing, and the name will not be brought before Council for consideration.
    • If the proposed name/explanation meets the Town’s criteria, it will be circulated to York Region Planning Department, the Town’s ECSS Department, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and where appropriate, the Town’s Heritage Advisory and for review and comment.
  • If the Region of York and the Town’s ECSS Staff have no concerns with the proposed street name, a recommendation report will be brought forward for Council’s consideration.
  • If a proposed name is not approved by Council, the applicant will be notified in writing and the name will not be added to the Street Name Inventory this decision of Council will be final.

 

Developers will be provided with the Street Name Inventory and will be encouraged to select street names from the approved list with an appropriate suffix. Once Developers select names for assignment to a municipal street, Planning Staff will report to Council with the proposed street name assignment for Council’s final approval. Street names cannot be reserved for a specific development until Council has approved the name for assignment to a Municipal Street.
Criteria

Proposed street names must meet the following criteria:

    • Are easily pronounced, recognized, use conventional spelling and are spelled the way they are pronounced
    • Names honouring individuals shall be a posthumous honour and consent is required from the individual’s family
  • Proposed street names with the following characteristics will not be considered for approval:
    • Those which exceed 16 characters in length (including spaces)
    • Those named after a living individual
    • Discriminatory or derogatory names, those which may be interpreted as such, or names of individuals known for discriminatory behaviour and/or beliefs
    • Names with undesirable definitions or those pronounced or spelled similar to those with undesirable definitions (including names with sexual overtones, inappropriate humour and slang)
    • Names seen as advertising for a particular business
    • Names already assigned to existing streets and park facilities in East Gwillimbury, York Region, or nearby municipalities
    • Names will similar spelling or pronunciation to an existing street name
    • Names with multiple words or special characters (dashes, hyphens etc.) are to be discouraged