Toronto Passes on the Chance to Honor its History with Sankofa Square

The Toronto city council made a controversial decision. Choosing to honor the late musician Gord Downie rather than recognize the city’s diverse past. Many Toronto residents had lobbied for the space at Yonge and Dundas to be named Sankofa Square. A name symbolizing a return to one’s roots, but the council felt a famous Canadian was a better fit.

Sankofa Square supporters saw the name as an opportunity to reflect Toronto’s multicultural identity and journey towards truth and reconciliation. The name represented a chance to acknowledge the histories and experiences of Indigenous peoples and communities of color that helped shape the city. However, council members felt memorializing Gord Downie was more appropriate for the high-traffic area.

What Sankofa Square Could Have Meant

If selected, Sankofa Square would have transformed the space into a site not just of commerce. But of reflection on Toronto’s past. The name derives from the Akan people of West Africa and symbolizes the importance of learning from history. With its meaning of gathering wisdom from the past, Sankofa Square presented a chance for the city to embrace its diverse roots and work towards a more inclusive future.

However, the decision has been made and Toronto will have to find other ways to acknowledge its journey. While Gord Downie’s memory is now cemented in the cityscape, many hope this controversy serves as a reminder of the ongoing push for recognition and reconciliation in one of the world’s most multicultural metropolises.