Downsview Stories

The Park emerged out of a commitment of the Government of Canada. In 1994-1995, the government announced that it would decommission the Canadian Forces Base Toronto and that the land would be set aside for development, recreational, and broader public uses. 

The start of World War II was the beginning of the military’s interest in the lands of Downsview. In 1937, the Royal Canadian Air Forces expropriated portions of the site to enlarge the airstrip and established the RCAF Station Downsview

The presence of the Canadian military in Downsview was evident in signage, fencing, and occasional truck and air traffic but for the most part, life inside the compound was pretty mysterious to outsiders. At its peak in the 1970s and 80s, approximately 3,000 military personnel and their families answered the call of duty at CFB Toronto. 

Knowledge is power is the motto of Downsview Secondary School. And, it’s the sharing of knowledge that empowers many of the Black community initiatives in the neighbourhood.

It was the biggest rock concert in Canadian history, and one of the largest outdoor ticketed events ever staged in North America.

Inter-tribal athletics competitions have been a meaningful part of Indigenous peoples’ way of life for millennia, and that tradition continues into the present day.  The City of Toronto played host to the 2018 Masters Indigenous Games on July 13-15, which centred around a specially created “Cultural Village” at Downsview Park