Park names honour contributions of McGregor, Spectrum

Dennis Hanagan—

Two Downtown parks were given official names by Toronto community council at its October meeting.

The new park at 5-24 Wellesley St. W. and 14-26 Breadalbane St., on the southwest corner of the Wellesley Street West and St Luke Lane, will be called Dr. Lillian McGregor Park.

Among her many accomplishments in the community, Dr. McGregor (1924-2012) was a founder of the Native Canadian Centre. She was a nurse and Aboriginal leader who spent most of her life in Toronto.

She was the first Aboriginal woman to be awarded an honourary doctorate from Toronto university and was widely recognized for her work promoting Aboriginal culture and education and received the City of Toronto Civic Award.

The linear park at 81 Regent Park Blvd. on the southeast corner of Dundas E. and Regent Park Blvd. will be known as Spectrum Park.

Recommending the name to council, the city’s parks department noted the name has “social significance” because it reflects the spectrum of Regent Park’s diverse cultures.

“The park’s identity is also enhanced by the adjacent Artscape Daniels Spectrum, an established local landmark,” the report added.