aerial view of waterfront looking northwest

News

Find the latest news and articles to stay updated on the projects and partnerships that are making the vision for waterfront transformation a reality.

An excavator removing part of the north plug of a river.

News

Flood Protection Milestone Puts New Waterfront City Within Reach

November 8, 2024, TORONTO - Today, the three orders of government, through Waterfront Toronto, reached a major milestone in a promise made to protect Toronto residents and businesses from the damages from severe flooding by completing a new mouth for the Don River and a new island.

A modern bridge over a water body with concrete on the sides and sky in the background.

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Our New Waterfront is Coming into View

To deliver on our vision for the waterfront as a connected, accessible and inclusive space, we’re advancing housing, transit and high-quality parks and public spaces.

An individual dressed in black poses for the camera with Toronto's Skyline overlooking CN Tower in the backdrop.

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Kent Monkman to Create Public Art Installation at Lassonde Art Trail

The Lassonde Art Trail has achieved a significant milestone with the selection of internationally renowned artist Kent Monkman for its inaugural permanent public art installation.

Modern office lobby with wooden accents and a variety of seating areas, featuring a large wooden table, sofas, and armchairs. The space includes lush green plants and a staircase with glass railings leading to an upper level. Decorative elements include a hanging wooden slat feature and green wall panels.

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Sustainable Skyline: How Mass Timber is Shaping Toronto’s waterfront

Photograph of street with building in the background and trees in the middle. Cyclist passing through the cyclists lane on the left and pedestrian on the right.

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Improvements from Queens Quay West Pilot Project

In 2022, Waterfront Toronto worked with the City of Toronto and the TTC on a pilot project to test ways to improve the intersections along Queens Quay West for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders.

Two individuals and a dog walking away together through a trail.

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A Complete Community Supporting Olympic Excellence

In July 2024, Waterfront Toronto had the pleasure of speaking with Olympic athlete, Micha Powell. Learn more in this blog.

Rendering: Toronto's future skyline with the proposed Quayside community completed.

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Quayside Milestone: Phase 1 Rezoning Adopted by Council

Housing affordability, and affordability in general, is a significant and growing issue for residents in Toronto, and across the country. The first phase of development at Quayside is poised to deliver 2,811 residential units, including 458 affordable rental homes. Learn more in this blog.

Rendering showing an aerial view of an art trail and urban waterfront.

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Public Art Plan Envisions a Free, Outdoor Museum in the Port Lands

In June, Toronto City Council formally adopted the Villiers Island and Keating West Public Art Master Plan. The plan builds on the success of Waterfront Toronto’s West Don Lands and East Bayfront public art master plans. Learn more in this blog.

A concrete wall next to a bridge separating a new river valley from the lake

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Waterfront Toronto Reaches Construction Milestone in the Port Lands: A Big Step Towards Reconnecting the Don River to Lake Ontario

Toronto, July 8, 2024 – Waterfront Toronto proudly announced a significant milestone in the Port Lands Flood Protection (PLFP) project today: the successful removal of the “west plug,” a concrete wall that was separating the new mouth of the Don River from Lake Ontario. This achievement marks a…

Artists rendering of a neighbourhood made up of buildings of varying heights, surrounded by parks and a river.

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Getting to Work on ‘Villiers Island’

Soon to be Toronto’s newest waterfront destination, the island will offer unforgettable living and experiences. As we continue the process of planning and designing a new community here, we answer your questions about recent updates to the Precinct Plan.

A view of Toronto from Lake Ontario.

News

Kiss n’ Sail Pilot Project Beginning Summer 2024 Announced

Waterfront Toronto in partnership with PortsToronto and CreateTO launched a pick-up and drop-off pilot program called Kiss n’ Sail to provide short-term docking opportunities for private vessels in the Inner Harbour. The pilot program will dedicate 30 metres of short-term docking space at Yonge…

people speaking to staff at a waterfront event

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Where to Find Us This Spring and Summer 2024

The best way for us to deliver a world-class waterfront is to hear from the people who live, work and play on the waterfront! Keep your eye out here for updates on where to find us this spring and summer.

Floating public art lit up in the lake at night.

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New Floating Artwork Features Messages About Water

Our 2024 Temporary Floating Artwork is on view now in the Harbour Square Basin through the end of September. Upcycle, by Javid Jah explores our connections to nature through water, investigating environmental and spiritual impacts. Learn more in this blog.

A rendering of a playground with a large owl structure.

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Larger-Than-Life Wildlife Coming to the Port Lands

As we get closer to completing the new mouth for the Don River in the Port Lands, work is underway on new parks that will line the river valley. Opening in Summer 2025, these will be places where people of all ages can play, eat, relax or just enjoy views of the river valley and lake. The park on…

Rendering of people and a streetscape

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What’s changing in the Villiers Island Precinct Plan?

We’re working with the City of Toronto and Create TO to update density and massing plans for Villiers Island to accommodate more housing, including affordable housing.

A curvy arched pedestrian bridge shown in a night view rendering.

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Connecting downtown to the Port Lands with an active transportation bridge

Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto, in collaboration with Host Nation and Treaty Holder, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, are pleased to announce the selection of WilkinsonEyre's, design concept, Equinox Bridge for the Keating Channel Pedestrian Bridge.

Rendering of people and a streetscape

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Waterfront Toronto’s Design Review Panel Reviews Villiers Island Density and Massing Study

Amendments to the 2017 Villiers Island Precinct Plan, along with Official Plan and zoning by-law amendments, will be going before Toronto City Council this June to allow the City to maximize the amount of housing on this new island community. Over the past two years, the City of Toronto, CreateTO…

View of wetlands and a pond in a lush urban park

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Embracing biodiverse landscapes for a better planet

Spring has sprung and all across the waterfront there are signs of new life – buds appearing on the maples that line the Water’s Edge Promenade, aquatic birds visiting to the new wetlands created as part of the Port Lands Flood Protection project, and frogs croaking in the marsh at Corktown Common.

aerial view of a new river being constructed

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Take yourself on a tour of the Port Lands

With the new roads in the Port Lands now open, it’s easier than ever to explore the new mouth for the Don River and the future Villiers Island.

groups of people spread out on the lawn next to a red heart shaped park pond

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Spring Maintenance for the Heart of Love Park

With the spring season underway and below freezing temperatures behind us, the City of Toronto has begun preparations to activate its water features city-wide, including ornamental fountains and ponds like the one at Love Park.

Artist rendering of a large arch as public art in a waterfront park.

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Waterfront Toronto Announces Destination Art Piece for Sherbourne Common

April 4, 2024, Toronto, ON - Following an international call for proposals Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has been selected to install a new permanent artwork called Unfinished Arch.

Rendering: Parliament Slip seen from above with water taxis at the mouth of the slip.

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Responding to Feedback: How the Parliament Slip Preliminary Vision has Evolved

In 2021, Waterfront Toronto shared a bold vision to transform Parliament Slip. Since then, we sought public feedback on the preliminary design. Here's how an updated design responds to what we heard.

A bustling city promenade beside the water with pedestrians walking and cyclists biking through the urban landscape.

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Solving Today’s Challenges and Meeting the Needs of Tomorrow

Waterfront Toronto’s 2024/2025 Annual Business Plan outlines the ambitious goals to be accomplished in the year ahead. To date, we have carefully invested the public funds entrusted to us to deliver extraordinary transformations along the waterfront. With the Port Lands Flood Protection Project set…

An aerial map of the Toronto Port Lands.

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How we’re flooding the new mouth of the Don River

You’ve watched us dig a kilometre-long channel, build it up with layers of environmental protections, then natural river materials. Now, we’re adding the final ingredient to the new Don River: water.