September 15th Meeting Summary

Jane Farrow: CBC broadcaster Jane Farrow speaking about neighbourhoods and names.

The second Fuzzy Boundaries Community Meeting, held on September 15 at St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, proved to be both enlightening and entertaining.

After welcoming remarks by event moderator Kevin Putnam, Fuzzy Boundaries member Bruce Gavin Ward briefly outlined plans for the naming process. A formal 120-day consultation process has begun which permits anyone to make name suggestions until January 14th when we hold our third public meeting. At the meeting, we will tally all the name ideas and let everyone make a pitch for the name they like most. This meeting will be followed by a two-week voting period that will narrow the list to the Top Ten Names. Those names will then go to the selection committee for a final choice.

Fuzzy Boundaries member Chris Kwaczek took the floor next and gave an excellent presentation about neighbourhood demographics. The material covered everything from languages and income to homeowners and renters in the area as compared to the whole of Ward 18 and the City at large. The material was so interesting we wish we had more time to review the stats and discuss their implications.

Next up was keynote speaker Jane Farrow who brought insight and levity to the evening event. Jane covered everything from what taxi drivers call the neighbourhood (her driver didn’t have a name for it) to the value people put on their neighbourhood identities. Jane discussed the significance of words and the unending quest to name things without names. And although there was no discussion of any of the 155+ name ideas, Jane half-jokingly said that she really liked "the Wedge" because it is short, unique and a bit edgy.

After the presentations, the floor was opened up to questions and a lively discussion with the audience.

Photos by Vic Gedris. Click for larger versions.

Fuzzy Audience: Approximately 60 people came to the meeting.