A portion of Panet Road in the Tyne-Tees neighbourhood of Winnipeg added another street sign, honouring the now-nationwide company’s Winnipeg heritage. On Saturday, Mayor Scott Gillingham announced an honorary street name for the road, from Nairn Avenue to Mission Street, as Princess Auto Way. The naming comes ahead of Princess Auto’s opening of its flagship store at 500 Panet Rd, scheduled for June 2. “Princess Auto has a long history in Winnipeg. Since 1933, the Tallman family has been providing opportunities for people to have jobs, providing the service that Winnipeggers depend upon,” Gillingham said. He said the company’s contribution isn’t limited to a business perspective only, but also to the philanthropic aspect – such as sponsoring major events, establishing scholarships and others. “The impact of the Tallman family goes deep and is long-lasting in our community – and by naming the street Princess Auto Way, it’s just a small way to acknowledge their great contribution.” Ken Larsen, CEO of Princess Auto, said it was “truly humbling,” in a media release. “What an honour,” he said. “We’re incredibly proud to be part of this community and to call Winnipeg home.” The city’s honourary street naming program aims to recognize individuals, organizations and institutions for their lasting and meaningful contributions to various aspects of Winnipeg – such as history, culture, economy and community life. Gillingham said it was his idea to add the honourary name. The honourary name does not replace the official street name. The maximum length of time for the honourary street name is up to 10 years.
