In a swift turn of events, the Trump Avenue sign in Ottawa’s Central Park neighborhood has vanished even before the city council could officially remove it. The disappearance of the blue and white sign at the intersection of Whitestone Drive was first noticed on social media on Friday.
The City of Ottawa has been contacted to clarify whether the sign was stolen or removed by city officials and the timeline of the incident. The city responded via email stating that they are investigating the situation and will determine the necessary steps, including the potential need for a replacement, once they confirm the status of the sign.
Notably, other Trump Avenue signs in the vicinity are still in place. Ottawa police have also been approached for additional details regarding the missing sign.
This development comes shortly after Ottawa city councillors voted to rename Trump Avenue, which was named after the former U.S. President 20 years ago, prior to his presidency. River ward Coun. Riley Brockington spearheaded the motion for the name change, citing Trump’s unfavorable actions towards Canada as the reason for stripping him of the honor.
Following the approval of the motion on Wednesday, a working group will be established to engage with the public, explore alternative names, and present a new name for a vote next spring. This initiative follows a previous attempt to rename Trump Avenue in 2021, which faced opposition from residents concerned about the inconvenience of altering their addresses.
The City of Ottawa offers a program for selling retired signs from streets with renamed names. It is emphasized that street signs are crucial for emergency responses and must not be tampered with. The city has previously estimated the cost of replacing a street sign at $70, albeit this figure dates back to 2007.
The Central Park area in Ottawa features various New York City-themed street names, such as Bloomingdale Street and Staten Way. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Trump Avenue sign adds to the ongoing discussions and actions regarding the street’s renaming.