Ookwemin Minising
Ookwemin Minising (pronounced Oh-kway-min Min-nih-sing, meaning “place of the black cherry trees” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin) is an ambitious urban revitalization project in downtown Toronto. Created through the transformative Port Lands Flood Protection project, this new 98-acre island reimagines former industrial land as a climate-positive, mixed-use community surrounded by restored river wetlands.
At its heart is Biidaasige Park (Bee-daw-sih-geh, meaning “sunlight shining towards us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin), a massive regional park system and river network that reopens access to the waterfront for generations to come.
Ookwemin Minising will become home to approximately 21,000 people. This future neighbourhood will be a place where housing, nature, public spaces, and streets are designed as an integrated system.
- Integrated Design: Buildings, streets, and landscapes are planned together to support a growing community while creating a distinctive sense of place rooted in ecology, history, and Indigenous presence.
- The "Growing Streets" Approach: Inspired by global precedents and Indigenous knowledge, streets are reimagined as living systems that support biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and create opportunities for people to connect with nature and one another.
Together, these elements help shape a neighbourhood that balances housing growth with high-quality public spaces and everyday livability.
Quick Facts
Built upon Transformative Flood Protection and River Restoration
Ookwemin Minising was made possible by the transformative flood protection and river restoration work known as the Port Lands Flood Protection project, which formed the foundation for the Biidaasige Park regional park system and the future island community.
Enabled by a $1.4 billion investment by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto, the Port Lands Flood Protection Project safeguards 430 acres along the eastern waterfront from extreme flooding. This work has paved the way for new mixed-use communities, parklands, wetlands, river valleys, future community spaces and neighbourhood amenities on the new island and in surrounding waterfront neighbourhoods, establishing Toronto as a global leader in waterfront revitalization and resilient urban design.
Future Housing on Ookwemin Minising:
As plans for Ookwemin Minising evolve, a unique approach to designing buildings and streetscapes shows how we can build more homes on the island, while keeping public space and making room for nature to thrive.
An integrated design and engagement team has delivered a demonstration plan for Ookwemin Minising that shows how more homes can be developed on the island than previously proposed.
The 2024 densities estimated approximately 9,000 units and approximately 2,200 - 2,700 affordable homes across the island. The updated 2026 concept plan increased density by 27% making room for approximately 12,000 new homes across the island. This includes approximately 10,000 homes on public lands with a target of 30% affordable, effectively delivering about 3,000 affordable homes.
Project Timeline:
The design and construction of the future community on Ookwemin Minising will unfold over the next 20+ years, with ongoing engagement and communications taking place throughout.
The design process is currently underway for the first phase of work, with construction anticipated to start in 2027. First residents are anticipated to move into the first homes on the new island in the early 2030’s.
Public & Indigenous Engagement:
As the new island takes shape, Waterfront Toronto and the Ookwemin Minising Project Team, including the City of Toronto and affiliated urban and landscape design and engineering firms, will engage with the public and Indigenous communities during key stages of the planning, design and construction of Ookwemin Minising.
- Public Engagement: Open house events, virtual meetings, workshops, talks and pop-up activations take place during key stages of the design phase, providing an opportunity to learn about the project, discover the latest updates, and connect with members of the Ookwemin Minising Project team.
- Ookwemin Minising Advisory (OMA) Network: An advisory body that provides a forum for feedback, guidance and advice to the Ookwemin Minising Project Team. The OMA Network is open to all participants and welcomes a diversity of voices, including but not limited to long-term participants in waterfront revitalization, those who live or work near the island, as well as those who may not have participated in city-building processes before but may have interest in or experience that can help guide the future of Ookwemin Minising. To learn more about the OMA Network or to get involved, please reach out to info@waterfrontoronto.ca.
- Indigenous Engagement: Guided by the Treaty Rights Holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), alongside the Six Nations of the Grand River, the Wendate Nation, and the broader urban Indigenous population, the engagement process emphasizes relationship-building, co-design and ongoing collaboration.
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Ookwemin Minising Engagement Resources:
30% Design: Schematic Design - Engagement Report - Coming soon!
