BURLINGTON STREET
Scott Gardner, The Hamilton Spectator
The Nikola Tesla Education Corporation raised funds in an effort to rename a portion of Burlington Street to Nikola Tesla Boulevard.
Vic Djurdjevic of the NTEC, a Hamilton-based organization, handed over to the city a ceremonial cheque for $150,000 that will pay for new Ontario Transportation Ministry signs. A ribbon-cutting event is scheduled to take place July 10 on Nikola Tesla’s 160th birthday.
In less than a few months the group raised about $180,000, said Djurdjevic. The group held a number of public events, including at the Winona Vine Estates in Stoney Creek, and a small gathering at a church that raised $7,500. He said the funds have poured in from around the world including as far away as Australia.
There will be eight signs that will be replaced on Burlington Street, from the Queen Elizabeth Way to Ottawa Street North identifying the roadway.
The non-profit NTEC is focused on promoting the accomplishments of Tesla, who was originally from what is now Croatia, and registered 279 patents worldwide, including on the AC polyphaser system of generators, the first X-rays, the Tesla Coil, remote controls and wireless communications.
The group has already asked the city if it could install a statue of Tesla at Bayfront Park, and is attempting to educate the community about the inventor.
Hamilton was the first major Canadian city to be electrified using Tesla’s AC electricity.
Hamilton Community News
Source: The Hamilton Spectator