A street by any other name would smell as sweet.
Banff administration has recommended formally assigning the lane between the 500 blocks of Banff Avenue and Deer Street as the currently used Deer Lane in the municipality’s addressing bylaw.
But at least one Banff councillor is interested in a different name, noting council has the sole authority to name roads and lanes within the Town of Banff.
Councillor Stavros Karlos received support from most of his colleagues to have administration return with a report with options for names other than Deer Lane – but his personal favourites are Bat Lane or Chipmunk Lane.
“Deer Lane is close to Deer Street and it’s confusing and I would suggest to council we consider another animal. We don’t often get the chance to be creative,” he said during a council meeting Monday (June 26).
“These two animals (chipmunk and bat) do not have a street name and are both lowly yet important creatures in the landscape of Banff National Park. Either would be an incredible name for a lane.”
The lane, which is already colloquially referred to as Deer Lane, is the site where the Town of Banff is building its affordable housing development, which council has officially named Ti’nu.
Under Banff’s addressing bylaw, roads may be named after animals or trees native to Banff National Park, national parks, geological features, topographical features or “anything else council considers appropriate.”
The bylaw is primarily designed to name streets and roads, but there is precedent in assigning names to lanes, in particular where a lane is the only access to residential properties.
However, in 2004, Coyote Drive was changed to Hidden Ridge Way, but former Councillor Bob Haney was successful in his motion for the name Coyote to be given first priority during any future street naming in Banff.
After some discussion, council voted 4-2 to direct administration to return with a report outlining name options other than Deer Lane. Mayor Karen Sorensen and Coun. Chip Olver were opposed, while Coun. Corrie DiManno was absent from the vote.
“I’m personally happy with Deer Lane,” said the mayor.
Coun. Brian Standish supported looking at other name options. “I find Deer Lane a little too confusing,” he said.
Coun. Ted Christensen joked: “I think Bat Alley has a ring to it.”
Meanwhile, council approved officially naming the Town’s new affordable housing development on Deer Lane as Ti’nu. Ti’nu is a soft derivative of the phrase “okăăc tidn u,” which means “come in” in the Stoney Nakoda language.
Town of Banff administration sought approval to use the name through the Stoney Nakoda First Nation Tribal Administration. At a collective chiefs meeting in May, the use of the Ti’nu name was unanimously approved.
