Mel Lastman Square
Square Public square in Toronto hosting festivals and concerts
Mel Lastman Square in Toronto’s North York offers an open plaza with summer concerts and a winter ice rink; locals and tourists attend festivals, markets and civic events.
Mel Lastman Square is a civic public square in the North York district of Toronto, Canada named after former mayor Mel Lastman. The square functions as a municipal public space adjacent to local government buildings and community facilities.
Facilities include an outdoor ice rink in winter and a bandshell or stage area used for festivals, concerts and seasonal markets, with paved open space for gatherings and temporary exhibits. The square is used regularly for community events and civic commemorations and is designed for high pedestrian use.
The square was developed as part of civic redevelopment in North York to provide a public gathering space outside municipal buildings; it has been used since opening for cultural programmes and public events. Its name commemorates a local political figure who served as mayor of North York and later Toronto.
It sits in Toronto’s North York district directly adjacent to the local civic centre and municipal offices, within the broader urban area of the City of Toronto.
- Year-round events: An outdoor ice rink is installed in winter and the square hosts community events, markets and concerts through the year, making it a year‑round civic venue.
- Location note: The square is named after a long-serving municipal mayor and sits directly outside the municipal civic centre in Toronto's North York district.
How to Get to Mel Lastman Square #
Mel Lastman Square sits at the corner of Yonge Street and Empress Avenue in North York; nearest subway access is North York Centre Station on Line 1 (Yonge-University). Several TTC bus routes also serve the area. Street parking and municipal lots are nearby.
Tips for Visiting Mel Lastman Square #
- Visit in winter when the outdoor ice rink is open (seasonal) - it's a local ritual that animates the square.
- Check for scheduled events: farmers' markets, live music, and civic ceremonies often take place here on weekends.
- Use the north-side TTC subway or bus connections to avoid surface traffic; the square is adjacent to North York Centre.
Best Time to Visit Mel Lastman Square #
Year-round public square with different seasonal uses: festivals in summer, ice rink in winter; timing depends on civic programming.
Weather & Climate near Mel Lastman Square #
Mel Lastman Square's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -10°C to 27°C. Moderate rainfall (844 mm/year).
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -2°C and lows of -10°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm).
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February
February is freezing with highs of -1°C and lows of -9°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm).
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March
March is freezing with highs of 4°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (70 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm).
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with 86 mm of rain.
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October
October is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 0°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm).
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December
December is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -6°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm).
