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The Friends’ request to have the Bathurst Street bridge that crosses the east end of the Fort York National Historic Site renamed “Sir Isaac Brock Bridge” was approved on November 27 by Toronto and East York Community Council. Since authority for this action had been delegated by City Council, the decision is final. The proposal went forward with the whole-hearted support of Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone and Councillor Adam Vaughan who share Bathurst Street as common ward-boundary. Our thanks go to both councillors. Brock, known as the Hero of Upper Canada for his spirited defence of the province during the opening stages of the War of 1812, died from enemy fire at Queenston on October 13, 1812. At one time he was commemorated in Toronto by Brock Street running from Front to Queen, but in 1884 Council renamed it Spadina Avenue to conform with what it was called north of Queen. Although it is sometimes asserted that both Brock Avenue and Brockton honour Sir Isaac, in fact they recall James Brock, his secretary and first cousin, who was granted almost 350 acres of land at the west end of the Military Reserve just before the War of 1812. After 1850, when James’s widow sold his land between Queen and Dundas streets, Brock Avenue was laid up its axis and Brockton village established where the road crossed Dundas Street. The Fife and Drum
The Sir Isaac Brock Bridge is scheduled to be completely rebuilt in 2009 to accommodate a full range of turns by streetcars at the intersection of Bathurst and Fort York Boulevard. In 2006 The Friends were instrumental in having Council adopt pedestrianand cyclist-friendly design criteria for the new structure.
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