On Saturday, August 23rd, 2025, Toronto made history. Dundas Square, long a symbol of downtown life, officially became Sankofa Square. The renaming was about: reclaiming memory, honouring ancestors, and setting a course for the city’s future.
The celebration carried the power of ritual, performance, and community pride. Ghanaian communities led Indigenous African ancestral ceremonies. Local artists filled the stage with music, storytelling, and dance. Sports, film, and public art rounded out the day, making the renaming one of Toronto’s most memorable events of summer 2025.
Why Sankofa?
CBC News explained the timing. August 23rd is UNESCO’s official day of remembrance for the transatlantic slave trade. For Toronto’s Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario, the connection was clear. President Emmanuel Duodu shared, “Sankofa means learning from the past to build the future. We look back so we can move forward, with confidence and unity. We learn from mistakes, and as one community, we create a vibrant city together.”
The word Sankofa comes from Ghana’s Akan people. Its literal symbol is a bird reaching backward for an egg while moving forward, a reminder that progress requires memory.
Community voices and leadership
Ashley McKenzie-Barnes, event curator, stressed that the renaming is functional, “We’re looking at what the future of the square can be. This moment is about listening to community ideas and building the next chapter together.”
Leaders from Ghana joined Toronto’s celebration, including MPs Hon. J. Gyakye Quayson and Hon. A. Dzifa Gomashie. Ghana’s President, John Mahama, sent a message reaffirming his full commitment to the Sankofa project. Toronto city officials, community advocates, and dignitaries stood alongside them.
Celebrating culture, health, and art
The day began with the Sankofa Day Run: Let’s Run, Chip, Walk Together, hosted by Hull Run Club. Crews like Ultra Black and Unchained Athletics joined. Organizers called it, “A body-positive, size-inclusive, culturally sensitive event” where anyone (at any fitness level) could participate.
From there, the city flowed into art and film. The Caribbean Film Festival showcased short films amplifying Caribbean voices and reclaiming narratives. Zimbabwean-born, South African-raised designer Nicole Nomsa Moya presented KORA, an immersive art installation.
Toronto’s streets transformed too. The Everyone vs Racism project turned a 53-foot transport truck into a rolling graffiti mural challenging systemic racism and sparking conversation.
Music, awards, and legacy
Alicia “ACE” West of FLOW 98.7 FM hosted the day. The night closed with a powerhouse performance from Kardinal Offishall, who electrified the crowd. Social media lit up. Nia Koney wrote, “This milestone is an inclusive experience uniting the Diaspora and African communities to celebrate Toronto’s rich cultural history and diversity.”
The iDREAM Awards capped the day, distributing $1 million to individuals and organizations advancing equity in Canada. Honouring “Emerging voices shaping cultures and breaking barriers,” the awards linked the renaming to concrete support for future leaders.
What Sankofa Square means for Toronto
The renaming of Dundas Square to Sankofa Square is a new cultural anchor for Toronto, a space shaped by remembrance, creativity, and unity. For many, it symbolizes a Toronto that learns from history while investing in a more inclusive future.
Anyone curious about upcoming events can visit sankofasquare.ca
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