Downsview Park

“Did the land beneath our feet ever dream it would become Downsview Park?” I ask, gesturing to the sprawling green expanse. Downsview Park, once a hub of military might, now echoes with children’s laughter and the quiet rustle of leaves. This 572-acre park, one of Canada’s largest urban parks, has a fascinating story to tell. Downsview Park officially opened in 2012. But its history stretches back over 11,000 years, to the time of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, and Wendat peoples. They lived on and nurtured this land, harvesting its resources with respect. Their presence is honored by the Sesquicentennial Trail, which opened in 2019 within Downsview Park. European settlement began in the late 1700s. Families like the Duncans and Boakes established homesteads and farms. The Boake family’s “Locust Lodge” stood for four generations until the military claimed the land in 1951. The area is now known as Boake’s Grove, a quiet reminder of Downsview Park’s agricultural past. In 1929, Downsview Park entered a new era. De Havilland Aircraft purchased a portion of the land, drawn to its flat terrain and strategic location between the Don and Humber Rivers. It became De Havilland Airfield, used by the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. The airfield expanded to include a pilot training school. During World War II, De Havilland manufactured aircraft for the RCAF and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, boosting the local economy and contributing to the war effort. The military’s interest in Downsview Park intensified during World War II. The airfield became RCAF Toronto, then RCAF Downsview, a vital training and support facility. It housed various units, including the RCAF and the Royal Canadian Navy. The base remained active after the war, serving as a training facility and emergency response base. After the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, it was renamed Canadian Forces Base Toronto. In the late 1990s, the Canadian government decided to decommission the base. Downsview Park was born. Today, Downsview Park offers a network of hiking and biking trails teeming with wildlife. There’s a climbing gym, an off-leash dog park called Dogsview Park, and numerous sports fields. Throughout the year, the park hosts a variety of events, from markets and concerts to festivals and sporting events. Downsview Park’s journey from military base to urban oasis reflects the spirit of Toronto: a city that honors its past while embracing the future.