Change in Location for Donation of International Mother Language Day Monument from Taylor Creek Park to Dentonia Park - by Councillor Brad Bradford, seconded by Councillor Gary Crawford

This has become an important celebration in Bengali communities in Toronto and around the world. The Bengali community in Crescent Town has spent years looking for a suitable location to erect an International Mother Language Day monument in Toronto. At its meeting on October 2, 2017, City Council adopted Item 2017.PE21.2 to accept an in-kind donation for a monument valued up to $0.25 million from Organization for Toronto International Mother Language Day Monument Inc., and for the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to negotiate and sign a donation and construction agreement with the organization to have the monument installed in Taylor Creek Park. Based on recommendations from the Bengali community through consultation with the Councillor's office, it was deemed appropriate to move the location of the monument from Taylor Creek Park to Dentonia Park. Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff support the decision and have identified an appropriate site within the Park to build the monument. Once built, the City will become the owner of the monument, and will continue to undertake regular maintenance of the site such as gardening and lawn mowing, however maintenance of the monument itself will remain the responsibility of International Mother Language Day Monument Implementation Committee, Inc. Timely consideration for this Motion is required in order for the work to commence in Spring 2020.