Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square)

Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square or YDS (MM13.29 – Confronting the Legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade: Renaming Civic Assets Bearing the Henry Dundas Name, By-law 675-2024)), officially the Sankofa Square Board of Management (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square Board of Management) is a City agency that manages, operates and maintains Sankofa Square, a one-acre outdoor public space in downtown Toronto. The Square serves as a gathering place and hosts entertainment and community activities that appeal to residents and tourists, showcase local businesses and contribute to the community’s cultural vitality.

Sankofa Square manages the Square’s outdoor public space and activities on behalf of the City in partnership with residential communities and local businesses, including the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area.

Sankofa Square’s key service activities include:

  • Event Production – Sankofa Square produces a broad range of programs which are free to the public, including concerts, film screenings and a busking program
  • Event Coordination – Sankofa Square coordinates, supports and hosts third-party events, including community festivals, arts and cultural festivals and functions for corporations, charities and not-for-profit organizations
  • Public Space Coordination – when not in use for special events, the Square functions as an open space for the public to enjoy, with seasonal amenities, including fountains and café-style seating

View the City’s Budget for detailed budget information on Sankofa Square’s service activities.

Sankofa Square Re-naming

On December 14, 2023, Toronto City Council adopted a change to the name of Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square (MM13.29 – Confronting the Legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade: Renaming Civic Assets Bearing the Henry Dundas Name). The name Sankofa is the result of two years of work by the City of Toronto convened Recognition Review Community Advisory Committee (CAC). On June 26, 2024, Toronto City Council further enacted Bill 648 to amend the City of Toronto Municipal Code to replace all references to Yonge-Dundas Square with Sankofa Square, and to replace all references to the Yonge-Dundas Square Board of Management with the Sankofa Square Board of Management. City Council, in this item, also amended the Board’s Relationship Framework and issued various specific instructions to the Board of Sankofa Square (EX15.4 – A Governance and Operational Review of Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square))

Governance

The Sankofa Square Board of Management (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square Board of Management) was established by City Council in 2001 and is a City agency under the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 636, Public Squares, governs the maintenance, operation and control of the Square exercised by the Sankofa Square Board of Management and establishes the Sankofa Square Board’s structure and procedures.

A Council-approved Relationship Framework further defines the relationship between the City and Sankofa Square and further sets out Council’s delegation of authority, expectations and requirements.

The Sankofa Square Board consists of 15 members. It comprises the City Councillor for Ward 13 by right of office and 10 public members appointed by City Council through the City’s Public Appointments process. City staff and other City agency staff also sit on the Sankofa Square Board as non-voting members (Economic Development & Culture, Facilities Management, Police Services Board, Toronto Parking Authority). City Council appoints the Board Chair, and the Board selects the Vice-Chair from among its members.

Find out about opportunities to serve on the Sankofa Square Board and its current membership.

Key Council Decisions