Today Christopher Hume weighed in on the impending transformation of the Bathurst Street Bridge (aka The Sir Isaac Brock Bridge) that we discussed here back in March. Currently the bridge is in the design stage after engineers and architects heard input that a thinner, respectful and perhaps signature bridge is desired for this prominent spot. From Hume’s article:
Now the city has decided to rebuild the structure, or at least the southern stretch. Though not much has been made of this, it’s a rare opportunity to create a Toronto landmark, improve civic infrastructure and in this case, make amends for the city’s shabby treatment of Fort York.
Engineers are now preparing for their first public presentation at a design review panel meeting on June 26. Given what we know about the workings of Toronto, it’s no surprise people are hoping for the best but expecting the worst.
In recent decades, Toronto (like the rest of Canada) has forgotten about infrastructure. The infrastructure deficit in Ontario alone is now put at $124 billion.
And so it is that a bridge becomes nothing but a means of crossing from one side of a gap to the other. A bridge is that, of course, but all work and no play makes for a dull city. This attitude may have started to change, however, with the Humber bridge; perhaps its unqualified popularity and instant iconic status have reminded city hall that it’s worth going the extra distance.
Photo courtesey of TCHC.
4 comments
For some reason, the name “Sir Issac Brock Bridge” leaves me thinking it ought to be in St. Catharines or something…
It’s tempting to comment on this one.Can’t wait to see the “final result”………..
It may surprise Adam to know that Toronto originally honoured Brock in the naming of Brock Street (Spadina south of Queen) where, with Tecumseth and Bathurst, it formed a trio of figures important in the War of 1812. But in 1884 Council changed the name, and the ‘Hero of Upper Canada’ was no longer recalled in any big way in the province’s capital city. Brock Avenue and Brockton are named for Sir Isaac’s cousin and private secretary. So The Friends of Fort York proposed the bridge which lies mostly within the Fort York National Historic Site be renamed for the man who defended Canada with such vigour until his death at Queenston in October 1812. Council approved this change in September, 2007. Of course, he deserves the commemoration he’s been given in other ways too, such as Brockville, Brock Road and Brock University.
It doesn’t surprise me in the least. It’s just that there’s an inherent extroverted grandiosity to the full “Sir Issac Brock” name that’s strangely incongruous (though not for the worse) with the way Toronto’s done things for ages–like such naming belongs more in the orbit of Queenston or the USA.
In cases like this, a break with tradition isn’t necessarily such a bad thing. But in the early stages of “absorption”, it can be momentarily hard to put two and two together…