The Port Lands: The Next Frontier for Waterfront Renewal

Over the past years, Toronto’s residents had to push back against several wrong-headed development proposals for their waterfront: Ferris wheels, mega-casinos, and jets. With these fights hopefully behind us, it’s time to re-focus on continuing the renewal of our waterfront.

And an import part of that are the Port Lands as a future place to live, work and play.

Just the sheer size makes the Port Lands the greatest opportunity the city has to continue the momentum of waterfront revitalization: The area is twice the size of High Park with 350 hectares (800 acres). It’s an easy walk, cycle or transit ride to downtown; there are great sight lines and parklands. However, much of it could be inundated if the Don River should flood. So for years, development in the Port Lands has been stymied by sensible regulations that forbid development in the flood plain.

This problem will hopefully be solved soon now that all levels of government have committed to flood-proofing and naturalizing the Don River mouth. The flood protection will open the way for Waterfront Toronto and the City to complete the revitalization of great new neighbourhoods and business districts in the Port Lands. Needless to say, the seven-year project is on top of Waterfront Toronto’s to-do list.

Prior to the tri-government funding announcement for the $1.25 billion plan earlier this year, the Don Mouth naturalization received approval from the provincial Ministry of the Environment and Toronto City Council.

We know that the Don River mouth project and the revitalization is an important step, but only one piece of the puzzle as Toronto’s waterfront shows its transformational potential. Other important steps in recent years included the Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village and dynamic new developments in the West Don Lands, namely the Canary District and River City. Another crucial part is taking shape with the redevelopment of the East Bayfront. The Corus Entertainment headquarters and the George Brown College waterfront campus will soon be joined by the mixed-use Daniel Waterfront complex that will include space for the arts and non-profits – to just name one project. Now we just need to stop the wrong-headed plans for a mega-club in the Port Lands...

And just as the Don River naturalization reignites waterfront renewal, it also acted as a catalyst for Waterfront for All. A number of highly effective and engaged waterfront organization are working to contribute community energy to continue the renewal of our waterfront – including the Port Lands.

We are working to bring together a forward-thinking coalition of community and interest groups with a goal of a clean, green, diverse, and vibrant waterfront extending right across the city. This includes building relationships with industry stakeholders, Waterfront Toronto, and the City to extend sustainable waterfront development from Long Branch to the Rouge River.

To this end, we are organizing Toronto’s first-ever Waterfront Summit on October 27 and 28. Please find out more here and RSVP for this important event. Let’s continue to protect and enhance a waterfront for all.

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Here are some highlights:

“Reality Check” by Prominent Torontonians

Ken Greenberg, Margaret Atwood, former Ontario Premier Bob Rae, David Mirvish, former Mayors David Crombie and Art Eggleton, and other notable Torontonians are delivering a Reality Check to federal Liberal MPs. [https://torealitycheck.ca/]

This web site also includes a substantial report on the proposed BBTCA runway expansion [https://torealitycheck.ca/full-report.pdf] as well as a report summary: [https://torealitycheck.ca/executive-summary.pdf].

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Scarborough Bluffs West Project

The Scarborough Bluffs West Project is major initiative from the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and the City of Toronto on a key section of our waterfront. It follows the Scarborough Waterfront Project on the eastern section of the Bluffs (from Bluffers Beach to East Point Park), that is currently in its implementation phase.

The Scarborough Bluffs West Project Environmental Assent will explore enhancing and protecting the sensitive shoreline and the Bluffs from erosion, as well as opportunities for improved waterfront experience and trail access between the Eastern Beaches (Silver Birch Avenue) and Bluffer’s Park along Lake Ontario.

Visit the link for detailed consultation materials and to complete a survey on the project (deadline: June 30 2026).

HERE IS THE LINK TO HAVE YOUR SAY: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/public-consultations/infrastructure-projects/scarborough-bluffs-west-revitalization/

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Ed Hore comments on the jet proposal to Planning and Housing Committee, City Hall, June 11, 2026

City Staff submitted a report dated May 28, 2026 to the Planning and Housing Committee saying the latest jet proposal has huge implications for planning and housing in the fastest-growing areas of Toronto, yet the City has been given almost no information.

Ed Hore, Chair of WFA, commented at the June 11 Committee meeting that the Toronto Port Authorities' jet proposal is amateurish and vague, yet we know from TPA's long-secret Environmental Assessment of the 2013 - 2015 jets proposal that the effects on the waterfront will be huge. Toronto Port Authority never submitted detailed plans of that proposal to the regulator. Everyone had to guess at the effects for two and a half years. The federal government eventually realized the proposal was nonsense, and quashed it in 2015.

This time, the City should be the adult in the room; it must keep trying to determine the impacts of jets on the waterfront and the city. No other level of government seems to think the details matter.

Save the Date for "The Cost of Uncertainty - Jets at Billy Bishop" Speaker Series 24

Save the Date for Speaker Series 24 "The Costs of Uncertainty: BBCA Expansion Proposal" (you know that vague 'plan' for jets at YTZ!)

We are pleased to announce that Ken Greenberg will be joining us as a special guest speaker. Ken is an urban designer, teacher, writer, former Director of Urban Design and Architecture for the City of Toronto, Principal of Greenberg Consultants, and a Member of the Order of Canada.