The first shot in the upcoming battle for a dilapidated section of the city rang out loud and clear. On Monday morning, Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford proposed renaming Sankofa Square in favour of “Toronto Square.”
Bradford described the square as a once-thriving hub that has fallen into disrepair, with open drug use and safety concerns driving away tourists. The Beaches-East York councillor said the square is one of the busiest and most prominent intersections in the country, with 100,000 people passing through it every day.
Bradford blamed the current state of the square on the mayor, saying that residents have been “conditioned” to accept it. He vowed to restore the square to its former glory if elected mayor in October, promising to clean and maintain the site, establish a police substation, and direct people to outreach and mental-health support.
Bradford also expressed frustration with the renaming process, which he said was marred by a lack of consultation and disingenuous tactics. He claimed that the mayor misled council and Torontonians about the level of community support for the name change.
As part of his plan to restore the square, Bradford said he hopes to secure corporate sponsorship to fund the effort without costing taxpayers a dime. He cited a previous instance where T-shirt sales led to a $20,000 donation to a food bank, suggesting that a similar partnership could be struck for the square.
