HONOUR THE MEMORY OF AFRICAN CANADIANS

PLEASE SUPPORT THE NAMING OF THE NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE TO HONOUR THE MEMORY OF THE AFRICAN CANADIAN COUPLE WHO STARTED THE FIRST TAXI BUSINESS IN TORONTO IN 1836.

We the undersigned respectfully request that Commissioner Joe Halstead name the new community centre being built at the corner of Bleecker, Sherbourne and Wellesley streets, in honour of the memory of Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, the African Canadian couple who started the first taxi business in the city of Toronto in 1836.

We ask this because the history of Africans in Canada is not generally acknowledged even during African Heritage Month. The Blackburn's story is part of Toronto's history. Mrs Lucie Blackburn lived on Bleecker Street (where the community centre is being built) for five years from 1890 to 1895 after the death of her husband in 1890. Lucie and Thornton Blackburn's last resting place is at the Necropolis which is also in the neighbourhood that will be served by this community centre. We the undersigned petition Commissioner Joe Halstead to name this community centre the "Lucie and Thornton Blackburn Community Centre