Ottawa to name street after Ryan Reynolds
Ottawa residents will soon have a chance to live on Ryan Reynolds Way.
The city of Ottawa is honouring the Canadian actor by naming a new street after him in the east end, in recognition of his contributions to the city.
“It’s clear that Ottawa does have a special place in Ryan’s heart,” Mayor Jim Watson said during his state of the city speech on Wednesday.
Reynolds, a Vancouver native, spent some of his childhood in Vanier, and has said he has fond memories of living in Ottawa.
The Deadpool star and his wife Blake Lively made a donation to the Ottawa Food Bank early in the pandemic, part of a $1 million donation to food banks across Canada and the U.S. He has also donated to the Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region.
And Reynolds participated in a running gag with Ottawa Public Health in which he revealed himself to be ‘Bruce,’ the inept social media intern.
Watson said when he broached the idea of the new street name with Reynolds, the actor said he was “very excited, flattered and honoured. I’m even a little choked up.”
“This means the world to me. Thank you on behalf of me and my entire family,” Watson quoted Reynolds as saying.
The Ottawa Food Bank says Reynolds and Lively have had an impact on the organization.
"You can’t ask for someone bigger or better than Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively - so it brings more attention to the hard work that we have been doing before than pandemic, and during the pandemic," said Rachael Wilson, CEO of the Ottawa Food Bank. "They supported the Ottawa Food Bank, but they also supported Food Banks Canada and other organizations and it really helps us do our work and get our message out."
Wilson adds, "The Ottawa Food Bank relies almost completely on donations so to have someone say, 'Hey this charity is important,' really helps us do our work."
Residents who live near the future home of Ryan Reynolds Way approve of the new street name.
"People will get a hoot living on that street," says Denis Brunton.
He says Reynolds has been a good ambassador for the city and Canada.
"I think that’s good because it keeps him connected,” he says.
Some people say they would consider moving to a street named after a celebrity.
Amanda Ko says, "Of course I would! I would have to wait a few years before I moved, but I think it’s awesome. I am glad they are doing that."
Joanne Quaglia adds, "It gets people excited to live in that area. I think it is fun!"
Ryan Reynolds Way will be located in a new subdivision adjacent to Avalon, at the corner of Mer Bleue and Brian Coburn.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.