Honouring the Past, Shaping a Place of Healing for the Yonge Street Tragedy

Special thanks to Mayor Olivia Chow, Councillor Josh Matlow, Minister Stan Cho, Toronto Police Service Yonge Street Foot Patrol, Toronto Parks Staff, Pastor Sean Huh, Omar Hassan, Alan Sperling, Bruce Greenway (photographing the gathering) and the community members who joined me at Olive Square last week to commemorate the Yonge Street Tragedy. 

We gathered exactly 8 years ago to the hour when we gathered at Olive Square, 24 hours after the tragedy, a community in shock and grief over what had happened.  It was meaningful now, 8 years later, to commemorate the darkest moment in Toronto’s history while also remembering the strength and warmth of our community during such a difficult time. We shared about the design contest and the vision for the park itself to become a memorial.

We look forward to the journey together to envision a place of healing and reflection that also reminds us that strength and beauty can emerge from the ashes. It was poetic that rain began falling after we finished, similar to the rain that fell 8 years ago as we prayer-walked from Olive Square to Lee Lifeson Park.

I am especially grateful for the friendships I have made in our community through our shared commitment to supporting our community through a difficult time.

Click Here to learn more about the timeline for the memorial.