Lord Elgin was Governor General of Canada from 1847 to 1854, in the years leading up to Confederation when Sir John A. Macdonald was on his way to becoming our first Prime minister.

Sir John was not an admirer, and said that while he had served under nine Governors, he enjoyed cordial relations with them all, with the exception of Elgin.

Apparently, Lord Elgin’s coachman turned down what was then known as Hopper’s Lane, or Lover’s Lane, one day, thinking he was going down John Street, en route to an agricultural fair in Markham. Thereafter, it became Elgin Street with much amusement from Sir John.

From such minor incidents are street names born.