EJQ7 - Winter 2026 - Journal - Page 20
2025 BROWNIE AWARD WINNERS
Best Overall Project
Biidaasige Park – Toronto, ON
BIIDAASIGE PARK transformed 20 hectares of brown昀椀eld on Toronto’s eastern waterfront into the city’s largest new park in a generation, while realigning the Don River to protect 174 hectares from 昀氀ooding. The project remediated 1.4 million m³ of soil, created a vibrant naturalized landscape with 5,000 trees and extensive
plantings, and opened the 昀椀rst public space on the new island, Ookwemin Minising. Beyond recreation, it unlocks land for 15,000 future residents, 3,000 jobs, and 39 hectares of new housing development.
Project Team: Waterfront Toronto, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Jacobs, Geosyntec, and EllisDon.
“Winning the Best Overall Project Award at the 2025 Brownie Awards is a profound milestone, validating the years
of complex collaboration required to transform post-industrial brown昀椀elds into Toronto’s largest new park in a
generation. Biidaasige Park is the 昀椀rst public space to open on a brand-new island created through 昀氀ood protection.
By remediating almost 1.4 million cubic metres of soil and realigning the Don River, Waterfront Toronto's Port Lands
Flood Protection project provides critical 昀氀ood protection for 174 hectares of downtown land.
This naturalized landscape—featuring 5,000 trees, 77,000 shrubs, and two million herbaceous plants—now serves
as the ecological heart of the new island, named Ookwemin Minising. Thanks to 昀氀ood protection and remediation,
this is a future home to more than 15,000 people. This recognition underscores the power of tri-government
investment to solve complex environmental challenges and create the essential infrastructure for Toronto’s next great
neighborhood. What was once a derelict industrial site is now a resilient community hub, proving that ambitious
engineering and ecological restoration can successfully rede昀椀ne a city’s future.”
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: STEVE
DESROCHER (WATERFRONT
TORONTO), DAVID HARPER (KILMER
BROWNFIELD GROUP), AND TODD
LATHAM (SITEMEDIA).
Emma Conway, Waterfront Toronto
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • W I N T ER 2 02 5 • P AGE 2 0
