Queen’s Park North will likely receive that $50 million from the Weston Family Foundation
“In a perfect world, we would have tax revenue to be able to look after public spaces and public assets to a high standard ourselves. That’s not the world we live in,” said Councillor Dianne Saxe
Queen’s Park North may soon benefit from a significant donation, care of the Weston Family Foundation.
One of Canada’s first municipal parks, the space opened in 1860 and underwent city-funded improvements back in 2019. The city had wanted to do more, but stopped due to budget limitations.
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The Weston family offered $50 million to revitalize the park, according to CBC. The mayor’s executive committee still needs to vote on the proposed donation. City council members have final approval, and a report from the city’s general manager of parks and recreation has encouraged council to authorize the offer.
“In a perfect world, we would have tax revenue to be able to look after public spaces and public assets to a high standard ourselves. That’s not the world we live in,” said Councillor Dianne Saxe. “The donation is incredibly generous of the Weston family.”
Saxe acknowledged that some may be concerned about the donation being viewed as political. “How do we make sure that there isn’t excessive influence by the donor? They don’t just hand over $50 million and say ‘have a nice day.’”
According to documents reviewed by CBC, the Westons would ultimately approve the design of any renovations. Improvements may include the installation of a café as well as washroom facilities.
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Carly Lewis is a journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times and the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Wired, Interview Magazine, Pitchfork, Elle, and Maclean’s, where she is a contributing editor. Her work has been recognized by the National Magazine Awards and the Digital Publishing Awards. She reports on city life, culture—including what people do online—politics, art and crime. She received the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Award for “The Murder of Ashley Wadsworth,” an investigative feature about a Canadian teenager who was killed by a man she met on social media, published by Maclean’s.
