Mel Lastman Square

History

The Square is located on what once was a "500-foot deep grassy field that served no apparent purpose other than to make City Hall hard to reach." The square was named after Lastman in a motion brought forth by Howard Moscoe at a city council meeting in April 1986.

The opening ceremony on June 16 was attended by 3,500 people, including Lincoln Alexander and Alan Tonks. It featured a choir and an inflatable King Kong on a nearby rooftop. MP Alan Redway read a tribute from Brian Mulroney and 7,000 balloons were released.

Surrounded by Yonge Street on the east, the Toronto District School Board headquarters on the south, North York Civic Centre on the west, and to the north by the North York Central Library and North York Centre shopping/office/hotel complex (5150 Yonge Street), Mel Lastman Square was intended to be the heart of North York. With its sunken configuration and tree cover, activities can take place away from the busy traffic on Yonge Street.

An artificial stream runs from a fountain under a large sign at Yonge Street down into a large concrete square. Planters, trees, shrubs and wooden benches surround the area. A large pond is located in the centre of the square that serves as a relaxing focal point in the summer and a skating rink in the winter.

The square also features an outdoor theatre for a number of events, including Sunday Serenades jazz concerts each summer. Other events include RBC Run for the Kids, a farmer's market, cultural festivals, Canada Day festivities and numerous family events.

The family of one of the victims of the Toronto van attack donated a piano in April 2019 to the square. It has been placed under a rotunda at Mel Lastman Square.

Mel Lastman Square Trees.jpg|A tree-lined walkway by morning at Mel Lastman Square, looking east toward Yonge Street Canada Day at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto - 2007.jpg|Performance onstage at Mel Lastman Square, Canada Day 2007

References

References

1. . ["Mel Lastman Square"](https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/956/index.html).
2. "Mel Lastman Square official opening: vol. 1, June 16, 1989–June 18, 1989".
3. (1989). "City of North York – Mel Lastman Square". City of North York.
4. Hume, Christopher. (June 16, 1989). "North York's Heart is in Lastman Square". The Toronto Star.
5. James, Royson. (June 16, 1989). "Tearful Mel is really scared he'll blow his cool on big day". The Toronto Star.
6. Duffy, Andrew. (June 17, 1989). "3,500 help Lastman open his square". The Toronto Star.
7. "Parks, Forestry and Recreation : Mel Lastman Square". City of Toronto.
8. . (April 22, 2019). ["Family of woman killed in Toronto van attack donates piano to Mel Lastman Square"](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-april-22-2019-1.5105278/family-of-woman-killed-in-toronto-van-attack-donates-piano-to-mel-lastman-square-1.5105280).