A brand-new 98-acre island in the Port Lands is ready for its close-up

It usually takes patience and an active volcano for a new island to form. But, in a city as ambitious as Toronto, we can do it ourselves. Enter Ookwemin Minising, Toronto’s new 98-acre artificial island in the Port Lands, a $1.4-billion project funded by all three levels of government that was designed to tackle some of Toronto’s biggest problems.

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The city’s population explosion—rendered even more challenging by the ongoing trade war—has brought about seemingly apocalyptic traffic and exacerbated the housing crisis. And then there’s the climate emergency, which continues to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, especially near waterways.

For the past couple of decades, the city and Waterfront Toronto, along with its public and private partners, has worked to alter this trajectory. Now, the organization claims it’s well on its way to delivering Canada’s first climate-positive neighbourhood in Ookwemin Minising, an archipelago on Lake Ontario that, in a few years, will be loaded with parks, public art, affordable housing and even zip lines. The island was carved out of barren industrial land, creating a new mouth for the Don River and flood-proofing the district for habitation. Biidaasige, a 50-acre park opening this summer with a giant wooden owl at its heart, will weave visitors through the river valley up to a promontory overlooking the downtown skyline.

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Ookwemin Minising’s extended list of promises also includes 9,000 units of housing (2,700 of which are guaranteed affordable) as well as unprecedented water access for kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding. There’s also the future Lassonde Art Trail, a 4.5-kilometre open-air destination that will add a vibrant layer of contemporary public art from around the world. Already commissioned is a permanent sculpture from renowned Cree artist Kent Monkman. “I want to create an artwork that sends a message to this city—which is home to people from many diverse backgrounds from all over the world—referencing, in a playful way, the many layers of Indigenous presence here,” said Monkman at the announcement of his piece.

The majority of the new Port Lands, which includes everything east of Cherry Street, should open in 2026, fingers crossed. “There will be play structures, wetlands, places to fish and a lot of walking paths,” says Mira Shenker, Waterfront Toronto’s director of communications and public engagement. The organization has also promised a restaurant-lined Keating Channel, pedestrian and cycling bridges, and new transit routes. Amazing what can happen when you build a neighbourhood from scratch.