Torontonians are divided over ‘Taylor Swift Way’ after council approves route name during Eras Tour stop

Torontonians are divided over the temporary renaming of the route from Rogers Centre to Nathan Phillips Square to “Taylor Swift Way.” 

The route name change will last for the whole month of November during the pop star’s “Eras Tour” stop in Toronto from Nov. 14-23.

During a city council meeting on Jul. 25, Councillor Jennifer McKelvie’s motion for “Taylor Swift Way” was approved by a vote of 21 to 1, with Ward 12, Toronto–St. Paul’s Councillor Josh Matlow being the sole vote against the renaming. 

Concert sponsor Rogers Communications will cover the costs of the “Taylor Swift Way” signs, according to McKelvie, and the signs will eventually be donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank to auction off for proceeds. 

Along with the name change, the street signs will be lit red on select dates of Swift’s concerts in November.

Mckelvie is also giving away a “Welcome to Toronto” T-shirt to Taylor Swift upon arriving for her tour. 

Online, some Torontonians are reacting to the temporary street name with either criticism or amusement. 

“Good thing her last name wasn’t Dundas,” one person said, referring to council’s decision to rename Yonge-Dundas Square in response to criticisms about the square’s namesake, Henry Dundas, a British politician known for delaying the abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. 

“THIS is the focus of City Council ….  Meanwhile …… flooding ……” another person said. 

“What the hell does Taylor Swift have to do with Toronto?” someone else said.

Others are saying the temporary signage isn’t that serious, and a fun way to commemorate Swift’s stop in Toronto. 

“Nothing is being officially renamed. No addresses change. No taxis will be lost or whatever reasoning you tried to throw out last time. Nothing. Its another sign being hung on a pole. Its probably going to be purple and maybe sparkly. They’ll be in a lot of tourist photo memories and then will make some extra funds for the food bank. THATS IT,” a Reddit user commented. 

“Something that is zero cost to the city, as it is being paid for by event organizers, and is just kind of a fun thing to do temporarily. I don’t think anyone should have a problem with this. It is such a minor thing (that, again, costs Toronto absolutely nothing) that just gives a little extra boost to the people attending the concert,” another Reddit user said.