Mel Lastman Square Square

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.

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.

• 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.