Musqueamview Street
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| Musqueamview Street | |
 | |
| Former name(s) | Trutch Street |
|---|---|
| Namesake | Musqueam First Nation |
| Length | 1.65 km (1.03 mi)[1] |
| Location | Kitsilano, Vancouver |
| Nearest metro station |  Olympic Village |
| Coordinates | 49°15′54″N 123°10′33″W / 49.26500°N 123.17583°W |
| North end | W 1st Avenue |
| South end | W 18th Avenue |
| Other | |
| Known for | Name |
šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street ([ʃxʷməθkʷəjʔəmasəm ˈstɹit]; English: Musqueamview Street), formerly known as Trutch Street, is a street in the Greektown area of Vancouver that gained media attention when the city council voted to rename it on 16 June 2025.[2][3][4]
It is the only road in the city to be named in a non-English alphabet.[5]
Name
[edit]šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm means Musqueamview in the Halkomelem language, the native language of the people of Musqueam.[6] The name was gifted by the Musqueam Indian Band in a ceremony in September 2022, after the city council voted to rename it in 2021.[7] A new sign was installed on 20 June 2025 at a ceremony at which the Musqueam chief, Wayne Sparrow, and the Mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim, spoke.[8]
The city council has established an English translation, Musqueamview Street, to be used for where the Halkomelem name cannot be used, including mail delivery systems.[6]
The street was originally named after Joseph Trutch, who served as the first Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and was renamed due to him being considered an extreme racist, with Global News saying he “was openly hostile to First Nations, denied the existence of Aboriginal rights, and did not recognize previously established Indian Reserves”.[4]
Criticisms
[edit]The name has been criticised for difficulty to read, write and pronounce, with the National Post's Jamie Sarkonak arguing that it will make wayfinding, mail writing, legal documentation (including tax, bank and insurance documentation), transit and communication unnecessarily difficult, also noting that it could make efficient communication with emergency services difficult.[9] Additionally, the Squamish Nation has disputed the name change, saying that the street is also located on former Squamish land and criticising the lack of consultation with their council.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "VanMap Viewer". maps.vancouver.ca. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Carey, Charlie (17 June 2025). "Vancouver's Trutch Street officially renamed to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street, 4 years after initial decision". CityNews. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Kulkarni, Akshay (16 June 2025). "Vancouver's Trutch Street to officially be renamed following unanimous council vote". CBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ a b Judd, Amy (17 June 2025). "Vancouver's Trutch Street to officially change to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm". Global News. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Fumano, Dan (11 June 2025). "Welcome to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street: Vancouver's newest street name is also its first using alphabet other than English". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Renaming Trutch Street to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street (Musqueamview Street)". Vancouver City Council. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Kulkarni, Akshay (30 September 2022). "Musqueam Nation gives gift of new name for Vancouver's former Trutch Street". CBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Little, Simon (20 June 2025). "Welcome to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street: Vancouver unveils Musqueam language signs". Global News. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ Sarkonak, Jamie (19 June 2025). "Jamie Sarkonak: Vancouver renaming street 'šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm' puts people at risk". National Post. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ Fumano, Dan (17 June 2025). "Vancouver's Trutch Street is now šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street. Not everyone is happy". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 21 June 2025.