yonge dundas

Yonge-Dundas Square renaming to Sankofa Square is about to become more official

The renaming of Yonge-Dundas Square and a few other assets is moving forward full steam ahead despite multiple public petitions to keep the moniker as is and the resignation of the attraction's Chair over the matter.

It appears that the formal rebranding will kick off later this year with the installation of signage bearing the new title of Sankofa Square, the switch having been approved by the Yonge-Dundas Square Board earlier this year.

A new letter between the City Manager and City Clerk outlines the next steps of the change, including the $105,000-$200,000 price tag of the new signs for the public space alone.

"The Yonge-Dundas Square Board approved the square's name to Sankofa Square at its February 15, 2024 meeting. Further, it held a special meeting on May 15, 2024 and adopted an implementation strategy to rebrand the Square with the new name," the communication, dated May 21, reads.

"The board's adoption of the name and its implementation strategy will be brought forward in June to Executive Committee and City Council, in conjunction with the report from City staff on the governance of the Square."

It also adds that, for those who haven't noticed yet, the old Yonge-Dundas signs were quietly taken down on May 13, in preparation of the new appellation, logo, and overall identity.

This update comes just a week after residents began noticing that Google Maps had already adopted the destination's new name.

While the retitling of the site, two subway stations and a public library grew from concerns over namesake Henry Dundas's ties to slavery, some critics of the move purport that these concerns stem from a misreading of Dundas' history.

There is also the fact that people feel "Sankofa" has little relevance to the city of Toronto, and is itself derived from the Akan people of Ghana who were involved in the slave trade themselves.

Lead photo by

Erman Gunes/Shutterstock


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Here are all the 2025 statutory holidays in Canada

Huge stretch of TTC subway spanning 11 stations closed for the next 2 weekends

Most people in Toronto now think that the city is moving in the wrong direction

11 million Canada Post parcels now undelivered ahead of Black Friday

Busy Toronto street kicks off major makeover set to wrap in 2025

Here's how much money you could save during Canada's GST holiday

Huge changes planned to 'transform' a major Toronto street

Canadians working in certain fields can expect a big pay bump in 2025