Ontario Construction News staff writer
A major milestone has been reached in the Waterfront Toronto flood protection initiative, marking significant progress in safeguarding the city’s residents and businesses from future flooding. The completion of a new mouth for the Don River, along with the creation of a new island, is a crucial step in Toronto’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the risks of severe flooding.
This project has received a combined investment of about $1.4 billion from the federal, provincial, and municipal governments. The funding will not only protect existing Toronto neighbourhoods from flooding but will also unlock up to 240 hectares of land. This land will be key to developing affordable housing and establishing what will become the city’s largest park network in over a generation.
“This achievement highlights the power of collaboration across all levels of government to address major infrastructure challenges,” said Jack Winberg, chair of Waterfront Toronto’s board. “Realizing this kind of large-scale transformation requires vision, determination, and a sustained commitment, which Waterfront Toronto has demonstrated for more than 20 years.”
The Port Lands Flood Protection and Enabling Infrastructure project, ranked No. 53 on ReNew Canada’s 2024 Top 100 Projects list, is a major step in turning Toronto’s waterfront into a vibrant, sustainable urban area.
“Waterfront Toronto has always prioritized the highest standards of design, sustainability, and community involvement,” said George Zegarac, CEO of Waterfront Toronto. “This milestone opens up critical public lands along the waterfront, setting the stage for a dynamic urban community that will support more than 100,000 residents and create 97,000 jobs. This vision starts with the new island, and next year, we’ll open Toronto’s largest park in a generation.”
The newly created 39.6-hectare island is one of the last undeveloped areas near downtown Toronto. This transformative project sets the foundation for future city development and includes:
- 2 hectares of new parkland and greenspace
- 4 hectares of land available for development
- 1 km of walking and biking trails
- 5 km of underground utilities
- 2 km of new roads and 4 bridges, including dedicated lanes for active transportation
In recognition of its cultural significance, the new island will be named Ookwemin Minising (pronounced Oh-kway-min Min-nih-sing), meaning “place of the black cherry trees” in Anishinaabemowin. Toronto City Council will officially consider the name on 13 November 2024.
“This new mouth for the Don River is vital in protecting communities like Riverside and Leslieville, which face an increased flood risk due to climate change,” said Julie Dabrusin, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and MP for Toronto-Danforth. “It is also a crucial part of the larger effort to revitalize and transform Toronto’s Port Lands.”