The city of Toronto, Canada, has officially renamed its iconic Yonge Dundas Square to Sankofa Square in a historic ceremony held on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
The launch coincided with the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, underscoring the day’s symbolic significance for both Ghana and the African diaspora.
The renaming follows a two-year consultation process led by Toronto’s Recognition Review Community Advisory Committee (CAC), which included Black and Indigenous leaders, residents, and business owners.
The move was sparked by a petition calling for the removal of the name “Dundas,” after Henry Dundas, an 18th-century Scottish politician, criticised for delaying the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
After extensive community dialogue, the CAC reached consensus on “Sankofa Square,” a name rooted in Ghanaian heritage that symbolizes learning from the past to build a better future.
The official launch, themed “Looking Back, Building Forward,” featured cultural performances, art exhibitions, storytelling, sports, sales of Ghanaian-made products, food, and displays of paintings and sculptures.
The Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) led the Ghanaian community’s participation, showcasing the richness of Ghanaian culture and tradition.
Representing President John Dramani Mahama at the event were the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson.
In her address, Madam Gomashie said the renaming was “not merely a change of name, but an act of remembrance, reclamation, and reparations.”
She described it as a bold step toward justice and healing for Africans both on the continent and in the diaspora.
“In renaming the Square, Toronto sends a powerful message to the rest of the world that it is possible to face history with honesty, dismantle legacies of oppression, and commit to building an inclusive future,” she added.
She further tied the moment to Ghana’s Black Star Experience, the government’s flagship cultural programme that builds on earlier initiatives such as PANAFEST/Emancipation, the Year of Return, and Beyond the Return.
Deputy Minister Quayson highlighted the shared history of the African diaspora within Canada, stressing that “healing is collective” and must involve all communities. He also announced the upcoming Sankofa Freedom Movement Project, set to be unveiled in Toronto next year.
On behalf of the Canadian Government, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Chris Moise reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting the project while deepening bilateral ties with Ghana.
The decision to rename the square was passed by Toronto City Council in a 17–6 vote. City officials say the new name reflects Toronto’s resolve to confront anti-Black racism, acknowledge the enduring scars of slavery, and foster truth, reconciliation, and inclusivity.
The word Sankofa, of Ghanaian origin, translates to “Go back and get it.” Its symbol is a bird with its body facing forward but head turned back, retrieving an egg—representing survival, remembrance, and learning from history.
Also present were representatives of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), including Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, and Sena Sadat Abdulai, Project Officer.
Speaking on behalf of GTA CEO Mrs. Maame Efua Houadjeto, they used the occasion to market Ghana as a prime destination for Canadians, diasporans, and global tourists.
Source: Adomonline
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