Two city councillors push to temporarily rename Toronto street ‘BTS Boulevard’

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 03: (L-R) V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS attend the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Two Toronto city councillors are hoping to pass a “Dynamite” motion in an effort to temporarily rename a Toronto street after one of the world’s most popular boy bands, BTS.

In a motion headed by Coun. Lily Cheng and seconded by Coun. James Pasternak, a proposal before council is calling for temporary street signs to be installed along a section of Yonge Street, from North York Boulevard to Finch Avenue, renaming it BTS Boulevard.

“It’s our way of saying ‘You Never Walk Alone,’ welcoming BTS and ARMY to Korea Town North with open arms,” the agenda item summary reads.

“Celebrating the cultural connections they have helped foster, and hoping that this visit kicks off many more memorable moments in our city with the best yet to come.”

The motion also calls for the signs to be lit purple when the famous South Korean pop band makes a stop in Toronto during its BTS Arirang World Tour on Aug. 22 and 23.

The Arirang World Tour is the popular boy band’s first tour in four years, following a hiatus from band activities while all seven members fulfilled their mandatory South Korean military service.

In 2024, council passed a similar motion, introduced by former Scarborough–Rouge Park city councillor Jennifer McKelvie, to temporarily rename a section of Queen Street West and John Street, between Nathan Phillips Square and Rogers Centre, Taylor Swift Way during the artist’s record-breaking Eras Tour.

Toronto city council is expected to vote on the BTS motion at the end of the month.