Debate over renaming Dundas stirs due to namesake's delaying slaves' freedom

A tiny, neighbourhood community board at the front of a Dundas home has sparked an online debate about whether the former town, now a part of Hamilton, should be renamed due to the racist history of its namesake.

Karen Schulman Dupuis told CBC News she started posting messages of support toward the Black Lives Matter protests on her board on June 1. She had a feeling she might experience backlash, but continued on.

On June 10, she posted about the history behind the name of Dundas — that's when her fears became a reality.

"As soon as I posted about Dundas itself, the namesake of this city, somebody had the audacity to rip off that sign, which was pinned on in a protective plastic sheet and had all the other posters I posted previously underneath them," Schulman Dupuis said.

Hamilton's Dundas was named after Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville — an 18th-century politician from Scotland who used his power to delay the freedom of slaves in Britain. He entered politics in the late 1700s, gaining status and influence as home secretary and secretary at war.

He later became known as "The Great Tyrant" for tweaking an anti-slavery bill that would delay the abolition of the slave trade by roughly 15 years. His actions froze the freedom of roughly 630,000 slaves.

The controversy was recently raised when people called for Dundas Street West in Toronto to be renamed. Those calls prompted the city to review street names.

Schulman Dupuis was upset someone ripped down her sign, but she posted another, calling out the person who took down the sign.

After posting more, someone pinned a rebuttal on the board.

"Changing a name does not eradicate racism, embracing other cultures does," reads the rebuttal.

"Please, let's not turn a neighbourhood friendly box of sharing reading material into a means to spread anonymous propaganda."

While Schulman Dupuis never advocated for or against renaming Dundas and said the conversation distracts from the atrocities marginalized groups are facing now, she posted her interaction on Reddit, which spawned even more discussion about whether the name should survive.

"Even if you don't agree with renaming Dundas (which the sign wasn't even advocating), it's at least worth thinking about who and what we choose to commemorate in our history. If you can't even be confronted with the facts about who your town is named after without trying to shut down the discussion, that's part of the problem," read a comment from named capitolcritter.

Another user, PSNDonutDude, responded with questions.

"I don't think it's a bad idea, but I'm just questioning the why. How morally reprehensible does someone need to be to be erased in such a prominent way? The goal is to stop racism. Does changing a street name reduce racism in any meaningful way?"

Councillor supports keeping name

Arlene VanderBeek, councillor of Ward 13, Dundas and Central Flamborough, told CBC News Dundas has no connection to the man it is named after.

"This community is welcoming and inclusive, reflects none of the history of this obscure and long-dead politician other than the name; and we are far removed from even a recognition that he was somehow connected to our history – unlike some others of his time," she wrote.

"What do I think about changing the name to anything else? Absolutely Not! DUNDAS FOREVER: that was our slogan as we pushed back at amalgamation 20 years ago. It is our slogan now. Don't touch our name."

Read her full response here: