Naming of Landscape Feature at the Mouth

of the Humber River, West Bank

The Etobicoke Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (May 12,  1998) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to obtain approval for naming a landscape feature at the mouth of the Humber River, "Sheldon Lookout", in recognition of a donation of $100,000.00 from Mr. David Sheldon and his family that funded the landscape design and construction of the project.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The donation from Mr. Sheldon and his family paid the cost of the project. Economic Development, Culture and Tourism staff coordinated and administered the project.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the landscape feature on the west side of the Humber River marked on the map in Appendix 1 be named "Sheldon Lookout" in recognition of the $100,000.00 donation from Mr. Sheldon and his family that funded the landscape design and construction of the project; and

(2)the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Council Reference:

On July 2 and 3, 1997, Metropolitan Council approved the acceptance of a donation of $100,000.00 from Mr. David Sheldon and his family for a specialized landscape project at the mouth of the Humber River (Clause No. 8 of Report No. 9 of the Environment and Public Space Committee). Council also expressed its appreciation to Mr. Sheldon and his family for their generosity.

Embodied in the same report was a request from the donor to investigate the feasibility of naming the site of the project after his family in recognition of the donation. The Environment and Public Space Committee directed staff to report back on the naming issue as soon as possible.

In August 1997, the firm of Gunta Mackars Landscape Architecture was selected to design the specialized landscape feature at the mouth of the Humber River.

Discussion:

Construction of the project began in the fall of 1997 with the reshaping of the contours of the site and the installation of large rocks. Final construction of additional landscape details and installation of plant material will be completed in June 1998. The donors are very pleased with the project and staff agree that the donation has made possible the transformation of the site into a public amenity on the waterfront.

After many discussions between staff and the donors, it was suggested that a fitting recognition of the family's generous donation would be to name the site "Sheldon Lookout". The name "Sheldon" refers to the donor and the term "Lookout" describes the site with its unobstructed views of the lake, the sky and the Toronto skyline.

Conclusions:

The donation from Mr. Sheldon and his family has added a unique landscape feature to the waterfront trail and provides a striking transition from the Humber River Pedestrian/Cycle Bridge to the development at Humber Bay Shores.

Contact Name:

Frank Kershaw

Tel: 392-8199; Fax: 392-3355