We love Oscar Peterson and New Toronto has already claimed him.

Peterson lived in the community in the 1960s and 70s’ and his portrait is among six Lakeshore Legends heroes whose mural grace a wall at Sixth Street.

Peterson, who was born in 1925 and has composed more than 400 pieces, lived at one time at Amadeo Garden Court Complex in two apartments overlooking Lake Ontario, according to local historians and residents.

Now, his hometown of Montreal, want to name a subway station after him.

An online petition is circulating to change the name of the Lionel-Groulx Metro Station to the Oscar Peterson station, to honor that city’s celebrated jazz legend.

More than 2,500 signatures have been obtained in a petition to try and place the musician’s name on a Little Burgundy station.

“I believe our city should honour his incredible accomplishments by renaming Lionel Groulx Metro Station as Oscar Peterson Metro Station,” the petition states. “He is considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of our time with a career that lasted more than 60-years.”

Peterson is an eight-time Grammy Award winner who is a virtuoso in the international jazz community. He was born and raised in the City of Montréal, where he grew up and learned his craft in Little Burgundy, where he loved.

Peterson died in December 2007 as an international star and one of the great jazz pianists and composers of the genre.

Duke Ellington called the Montreal-born virtuoso the “Maharaja of the keyboard.”

Lionel Groulx died in 1967 and was a Catholic priest, historian and Quebec nationalist.

The word-renowned pianist worked with top musicians as Ray Brown, Ella Fitzgerald and many others. His song “Hymn To Freedom” rose to become one of the top crusade songs of the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr.
He loved York University and served as the university’s fifth chancellor and was involved in the York music program.
Peterson was recognized by the City of Mississauga in 2003 when a street was named for him and he was presented with a Civic Award of Merit. He had postage stamp unveiled in his honour, along with his name on plaques and numerous schools. He was also inducted to the Order of Canada in 1972.

The mural, by Toronto artist Chris Irvine, pays tribute to fellow Lakeshore Legends: NHL star Dave Bolland, marathoner Jerome Drayton, skater Petra Burka, swimmer Lou Gamble and others who contributed to the rich cultural fabric of our community.

The petition is available at change.org