The filed record
Authority to Enter into a Licence Agreement with Canada Ireland Foundation for Ireland Park - by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, seconded by Councillor Paula Fletcher
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The decision
2025-03-26 · Toronto City Council · adopted
As filed
City Council on March 26 and 27, 2025, adopted the following: 1. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, to enter a nominal 20-year Licence Agreement with Canada Ireland Foundation for the continued maintenance and repair of Ireland Park, a memorial park commemorating the arrival of Irish Famine migrants to Toronto
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in 1847, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, and in a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor.
On the agenda
As the city filed it
The Canada Ireland Foundation and Ireland Park represent the ongoing connection between Canada and Ireland, rooted in history, culture, and community. Founded in 1997 as the Ireland Park Foundation, Canada Ireland Foundation began with a singular mission: to create a public space commemorating the Irish Famine migrants who arrived in Toronto during the summer of 1847. A 20-year Licence Agreement established on July 1, 2004, granted Canada Ireland Foundation the ability to construct Ireland Park as a memorial to the approximately 39,000 Irish Famine migrants who arrived in Toronto, the 1,100 famine victims buried in a mass grave at Queen and Power Streets, and the 20,000 residents of Toronto who extended aid.
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The five bronze sculptures by Irish artist Rowan Gillespie, known as Arrival, depict the Irish migrants' landing in Toronto, complementing his Departure series found in the quayside in Dublin, Ireland. The sculptures are embraced and protected by the limestone 'memory wall', which serves as a powerful tribute to Irish Famine migrants who lost their lives upon arrival into the city during the summer of 1847. Through ongoing archival research funded by Canada Ireland Foundation, new names are uncovered and added to the wall, transforming Ireland Park into a living, evolving memorial. The 2004 Licence Agreement expired July 1, 2024. Parks and Recreation and Canada Ireland Foundation are seeking authority to enter a new Licence Agreement to reflect the completed status of Ireland Park and the ongoing relationship and shared commitment to preserving this cultural landmark, fostering public engagement, and honouring the legacy of Irish migration in Toronto for generations to come. In addition to Ireland Park, the City of Toronto and Canada Ireland Foundation have established a 20-year Licence Agreement for Grasset Park and a long-term lease agreement for The Corleck Building, to be restored and repurposed as a cultural venue by Canada Ireland Foundation. Far more than a traditional park, Ireland Park is a special place of commemoration and remembrance which engages with contemporary public art and landscape. For the Irish diaspora, Ireland Park is a place to reflect, connect, and honour the resilience of their ancestors. For the wider Toronto community, it provides a peaceful space along the water's edge, offering moments of quiet contemplation while immersing visitors in the layered history of Toronto.
Staff recommended
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, seconded by Councillor Paula Fletcher, recommends that: 1. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, to enter a nominal 20-year Licence Agreement with Canada Ireland Foundation for the continued maintenance and repair of Ireland Park, a memorial park commemorating the arrival of Irish Famine
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migrants to Toronto in 1847, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, and in a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor.
On the record
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