At Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), we are privileged to work and learn on the Traditional Territories and Treaty Lands of many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.
Through ongoing relationships with Indigenous Peoples, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, artists, and partners, we continue to deepen our understanding of the land, its histories, and the importance of Indigenous perspectives in shaping meaningful conservation and public spaces.
In recognition of National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day, TRCA is highlighting the Morningside Legacy Project: an evolving, multi-phase initiative helping to restore Indigenous presence within one of Toronto’s largest urban parks.
Restoring Indigenous Presence at Morningside Park
TRCA has designed a series of Indigenous outdoor gathering spaces, located in Scarborough’s Morningside Park, developed in collaboration with Williams Treaties First Nations, including the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Hiawatha, and Curve Lake First Nations.
Together, these spaces are known as the Morningside Legacy Project.
The vision is to create five culturally informed installations along an educational trail, spaces that share First Nations history and cultural significance while offering opportunities for ceremony, storytelling, and shared learning.
The project is being implemented in phases as funding becomes available.
A Vision Taking Shape
On June 24, 2025, the first gathering space of the Morningside Legacy Project was completed and unveiled at Morningside Park, an important step in centering Indigenous histories and perspectives in Toronto’s public spaces.
Located west of Morningside Avenue and south of Ellesmere Road, this first gathering space was thoughtfully designed as a welcoming place for pause, reflection, and learning. It serves as an introduction to First Nations history and welcomes visitors onto First Nations land.
At its centre is a feature granite boulder bearing a Treaty plaque that shares treaty history, surrounded by an integrated seating area designed for storytelling.
The space incorporates interpretive elements that invite visitors to engage with Indigenous histories and perspectives in meaningful ways.
The new Indigenous outdoor gathering space at Morningside Park.
Five Spaces, One Story
The long-term vision for the Morningside Legacy Project includes five distinct gathering spaces, each offering a different perspective on Indigenous culture and relationships with the land.
As the project evolves and funding becomes available, the envisioned spaces may include:
- An introductory area that welcomes visitors and provides context on First Nations history
- A healing garden shaped like a turtle, reflecting creation stories
- A space highlighting the importance of salmon and other animals in the ecosystem
- A circular gathering area inspired by the medicine wheel, designed for storytelling and reflection
- A forest-focused installation that encourages exploration and a deeper connection to the land
Together, these spaces will form a trail that offers opportunities for learning, ceremony, reflection, and quiet contemplation.
Concept sketches for the future gathering spaces planned at Morningside Park.
Why This Work Matters
Public spaces are not neutral – they carry stories. Historically, Indigenous narratives have often been absent from the landscapes many of us move through every day.
The Morningside Legacy Project begins to address that gap by intentionally creating spaces that make Indigenous presence, knowledge, and histories more visible within the park experience.
The project also demonstrates how collaboration, conservation, and cultural recognition can come together to shape more inclusive and meaningful experiences for everyone who visits.
Looking Ahead
While the first gathering space is now complete, additional phases of the Morningside Legacy Project remain dependent on future funding and partnerships. Continued collaboration with Williams Treaties First Nations will be essential to advancing the remaining installations.
As the project evolves, it offers a meaningful example of how public spaces can be shaped through shared respect and a commitment to reflecting the full histories of the land – and to the ongoing work of reconciliation that those histories call us toward.
The design of the Morningside Legacy Project gathering spaces was developed in collaboration with 4 Directions Conservation Consulting Services, Stefan Bolliger Associates Inc., SpruceLab, and the City of Toronto.