McMurrich name lives on in township

Pity John McMurrich no longer. The name of the influential businessman of Toronto’s early years, and first MPP for York North, will stay on as half of the McMurrich/Monteith Township name.

Reeve Joanne Griffiths had proposed changing the name of the township, northwest of Huntsville, to Sprucedale after the main town in the area, but apologized after the idea got unexpected attention in the media, including the Star. The township council voted unanimously Monday to keep the name intact, garnering an unusually emotional response, said resident Karen Insley. “Everybody was clapping. There were some ‘yays’ and stuff . . . it’s (usually) a lot of serious business.”