Villiers Island

Villiers Island is an artificial island taking shape in Toronto's Port Lands through new waterways, including an extension of the Don River and the Keating Channel. The island sits separated from the surrounding city by these reshaped water passages and creates a defined space for future development.

The site was originally wetland before transforming into industrial land in the early 1900s. Environmental concerns eventually sparked this reshaping project to restore the landscape toward a more natural state.

The island bears the name Ookwemin Minising, which means 'place of black cherry trees' in the language of the Haudenosaunee people. This name was chosen through collaboration with Indigenous communities and their knowledge keepers.

The site continues to develop, so some areas may be under construction or have limited access at various times. Visitors should expect that planned public spaces and connections will open gradually over time.

The project weaves flood protection measures with preservation of early 20th-century industrial buildings. These older structures are integrated into the new landscape and show how past and future visions come together.