Richard Bigley Lane - Toronto

Richard Bigley Lane is a laneway in-between Mutual Street and Jarvis Street in Downtown Toronto.

This lane is named after Richard Bigley who a century ago operated a Stove business based out of the building which adjoins the laneway. His company was named Happy Thoughts Stove. Really, no kidding, Happy Thoughts Stove.

Garden District Residents Association host a reception and cake cutting after the Naming Ceremony & Richard Bigley Lane sign was unveiled. Friday June 21 2013.Along with Nicholas from the Garden District Residents Association, For her Advocacy, Maria gets her own Richard Bigley Lane sign from City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam.On Friday June 21 2013, there was a Lane Naming Ceremony and Street Sign Unveiling.

Area City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and a number of City of Toronto staff joined members of the Garden District Residents Association to officially unveil the new street sign.

Previously, the laneway was used for less desirable activities and was quite dirty with trash and litter.

The Garden District Residents, led by Maria Pede who lives here, took it upon themselves to clean up the litter and advocate for proper signage and naming of the laneway.

Their rationale was that once a place has a name to it, people will respect it as it is no longer an anonymous place for dumping trash and bad behaviour.

On the day of the clean up, 10 industrial sized bags of garbage were collected.

The next day, the drug users and dealing were gone and have not returned. Area Residents do indeed feel safer now.