Petition pushes to name Vancouver street after Ryan Reynolds

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and soon, Ryan Reynolds could have a street named after him in his hometown if a petition gets its way.

KiSS RADiO, NEWS 1130’s sister station, were inspired to start the push after Reynolds and his wife Blake Lively donated $500,000 to Covenant House.

“Not only has he captured our hearts on the big screen, his humanitarian efforts have made him a beloved local treasure who encapsulates the best of Vancouverites, and fully deserving of this recognition in his hometown,” the petition reads.

Morning co-hosts Kevin and Tara Jean discussed the petition Thursday.

“I’m excited because I think change is about to happen on the streets of Vancouver because we are launching a petition to rename one of the streets in Vancouver after one of its favourite sons. We’re talking about Ryan Reynolds,” Kevin said.

Hey #Vancouver would you support naming a local street after @VancityReynolds ?

There's a petition running now suggesting exactly that.

— David Zura (@DavidZuraCityTV) November 26, 2020

“He has proven that he is deserving of our love, and what he’s done for the community is incredible,” he explained, noting that the donation to Covenant House is one of many ways he’s showed up to help people in his home city in recent months.

Reynolds made the news in 2020 for using his own salary to hire BIPOC production assistants to work on a Vancouver-based project, and for helping reunite a woman with a beloved keepsake that was stolen, and for treating the graduating class of his alma-mater with pizza after COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the ceremony.

Earlier this week the Deadpool actor surprised a boy in the Shuswap for his ninth birthday.

The criteria for naming a street after someone includes that “the person volunteered and gave extraordinary help or care to individuals, families, or groups, or support to the community,” according to the City of Vancouver’s website.

But Tara Jean pointed out there’s a hurdle to overcome.

“Generally, you have to be dead to have a street named after you in the city of Vancouver,” she noted.

But the hosts are undeterred.

“Petitions are here to change things.”