Millions for a New Name: Does Sankofa Square Truly Reflect Toronto?

Source: https://www.youtube.com/@RebelNewsOnline

The renaming of Dundas Square to Sankofa Square is being celebrated as a historic correction — one that removes the name of Henry Dundas, whose ties to slavery and oppression made him an unworthy symbol for Toronto’s public space. While the desire to confront the past is understandable, I question whether changing the name was truly necessary, especially at a time when Toronto is already struggling with major financial challenges.

Renaming a central landmark is not a simple gesture. It comes with significant costs for signage, branding, maps, and countless other adjustments — costs that ultimately fall on taxpayers. In a city already facing serious budget pressures, it’s worth asking: is this the best use of limited public funds? Removing the Dundas name was a powerful act in itself, and perhaps that acknowledgment alone could have been enough.

But if renaming was truly deemed essential, then the choice of the new name deserves scrutiny. Sankofa, drawn from Akan culture in West Africa, holds deep meaning: the idea that we must learn from the past to build a better future. It is a beautiful and wise concept — and not one unique to a single culture. Many traditions around the world share similar lessons.

The challenge is that the word itself is unfamiliar to many Torontonians. While the message is universal, the use of a specific cultural expression makes the square feel tied to one community rather than inclusive of all. Toronto, as one of the most multicultural cities in the world, had an opportunity to select a name that resonated broadly and symbolized shared belonging.

Instead, the city has risked creating a sense of partial inclusivity — uplifting some communities while leaving others on the margins. Good intentions should be matched with choices that bring everyone in, especially when taxpayer dollars are funding the change.

What Can Concerned Residents Do?

If you share these concerns, there are constructive ways to make your voice heard:

• Write to your city councillor and express your perspective on both the costs and the inclusivity of the decision.

• Advocate for broader community consultation in future naming decisions, ensuring all cultures and communities are represented.

• Engage in public forums or local media (letters to the editor, op-eds, community meetings) to keep the conversation alive.

• Support inclusive policy initiatives that go beyond renaming — such as investing in multicultural programs, heritage projects, or public art that represents Toronto’s diversity more directly.

  
  

Symbols matter, but so does the process of creating them. Moving forward, Toronto should weigh both the practical costs and the symbolic outcomes of such decisions. Correcting history is important, but so is ensuring that the symbols we create are financially responsible and truly representative of the diverse communities that make this city what it is.