New Installation Reflects Indigenous Presence and Sets the Stage for Shared Learning and Reconciliation in Toronto’s Public Spaces
June 25, 2025, Toronto, ON – Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) in collaboration with the Williams Treaties First Nations, including Scugog, Hiawatha, and Curve Lake First Nation, and with support from TD Bank Group (TD), has developed a new Indigenous gathering space in Morningside Park, Toronto.
The installation marks the first phase of the Morningside Legacy Project, which aims to restore Indigenous presence within the Toronto region by creating culturally informed spaces for ceremony, storytelling, and shared learning.
On June 24, 2025, TRCA held a private ceremony to mark the completion of the gathering space and honour the relationships that shaped it.
The event included an opening ceremony with remarks from project collaborators and TRCA leadership, including Deputy Mayor for Scarborough and local City Councillor Paul Ainslie, who also serves as Chair of TRCA’s Board of Directors; John MacKenzie, TRCA’s Chief Executive Officer; Gary Pritchard, Chief Executive Officer and Senior Ecologist at 4 Directions Conservation Consulting Services; and Jett Lafantaisie, Ontario Regional Manager, Indigenous Banking, TD Bank Group.
The ceremony coincided with National Indigenous History Month and recognized the collective efforts that brought this initiative to realization.
Developed in a close relationship with the Williams Treaties First Nations, the project also draws on the expertise of Indigenous knowledge holders and planners, including 4 Directions Conservation Consulting Services. Additional design support was provided by Stefan Bolliger Associates Inc., SpruceLab, and the City of Toronto’s Indigenous Affairs Office.
The gathering space is the first of five planned outdoor installations designed to bring Indigenous culture, knowledge, and history to the forefront of one of Toronto’s largest ravine parks. This initial installation includes a circular gathering area centered around a large granite marker that shares treaty history.
Public spaces are not neutral; they carry stories. Indigenous narratives have often been absent from these landscapes. The Morningside Legacy Project begins to change this by offering all visitors, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, a meaningful gathering space to encounter Indigenous culture and knowledge.
This initiative responds to calls to bring reconciliation into everyday spaces by building relationships that honour Indigenous histories and encourage community learning and reflection.
The Morningside Legacy Project lays the foundation for greater understanding across Toronto and looks ahead to a future where Indigenous presence is more recognized and integrated throughout the city’s parks, trails, and gathering places.
While this first installation has been completed, future phases of the project remain unfunded. Continued support and new collaborators are essential to advancing the next stages of the project.
Archaeology Coordinator, Hiawatha First Nation; John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, TRCA; and Lisa Turnbull, Associate Director, Restoration & Infrastructure, TRCA.
Quotes:
“Places like this may be small, but they can be powerful. Here, all people can find guidance from our knowledge keepers and show the world our voice and presence in a culturally appropriate non-colonial way.”
– Gary Pritchard, CEO and Senior Ecologist, 4 Directions Conservation Consulting Services
“At TD, we recognize the vital role that Indigenous communities play in the protection and preservation of nature. That’s why we’re proud to support like-minded organizations like Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and its work through the Morningside Legacy Project to help advance Indigenous-led initiatives rooted in traditional knowledge and land-based practices. Transforming a public space in Toronto, this project helps create a meaningful opportunity to celebrate Indigenous histories and cultures, foster community connection and drive positive, lasting change that can benefit both people and the environment now and for future generations.”
– Alicia Rose, Associate Vice President, Social Impact and Strategy Canada, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group
“Morningside Legacy Project is a tribute to Indigenous history and knowledge, showcasing what’s possible when we commit to meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities to create spaces grounded in shared values. ‘Legacy’ is the perfect word because this project not only acknowledges our past but also helps shape our future. The approach to visioning and designing this space involving the Williams Treaties First Nations sets a precedent for how we can approach projects for other public spaces across the City of Toronto and our region.”
– Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie, City Councillor for Scarborough–Guildwood, and Chair of the Board of Directors at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
“Honouring Indigenous presence and history in the heart of our cities and communities is an important responsibility, and TRCA is proud to have worked so closely in collaboration with Williams Treaties First Nations in creating this special place. We are deeply grateful for their guidance and the knowledge they’ve shared and for the City of Toronto staff input and approvals for this project. We also extend our sincere thanks to TD, whose generous financial support and cooperation helped turn this project from concept into reality.”
– John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
About Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Since 1957, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), as enabled through the provincial Conservation Authorities Act, has taken action to enhance our region’s natural environment and protect our land, water, and communities from the impacts of flooding and increasingly extreme weather events – Ontario’s leading cause of public emergencies.
As the region’s first line of defence against natural hazards, TRCA maintains vital infrastructure and provides programs and services that promote public health and safety, protecting people and property. TRCA mobilizes a science-based approach to provide sound policy advice, leveraging its position as a not-for-profit operating in the broader public sector to achieve collective impacts within our communities and across all levels of government.
TRCA’s dedication to its employees and sustainability has earned it recognition as both one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. These distinctions highlight TRCA’s commitment to fostering a supportive, innovative, and environmentally responsible workplace – dedicated to driving meaningful change and create lasting positive impacts in the communities it serves.
TRCA’s jurisdiction includes nine watersheds and their Lake Ontario shorelines, spanning six upper-tier and fifteen lower-tier municipalities and representing almost five million people, approximately 10% of Canada’s population.
To learn more about TRCA, visit trca.ca.
Media Contacts
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Afiya Jilani
Specialist, Communication and Media Relations
Communications, Marketing and Events
afiya.jilani@trca.ca
media@trca.ca