$59M conservation area opens to the public in Mississauga

After a nearly year-long delay, a huge new conservation area described as “a landmark project that’s been more than a decade in the making” opens to the public this weekend in the southeast corner of Mississauga.

The 64-acre Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area, named for the late Mississauga city councillor who worked to bring the massive restoration project to fruition, will welcome its first visitors on Saturday.

Guided hikes, a nature-themed scavenger hunt and, for early risers, a sunrise ceremony are among the activities planned for members of the public who attend Saturday’s opening, which runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (much earlier for sunrise attendees). People of all ages are welcome and admission is free.

One of the pedestrian bridges at the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area.

For those who are interested, the sunrise ceremony is scheduled to take place between 6 and 7 a.m., organizers of opening day activities said this week in an online update to the community.

Expected to “transform a once-industrial shoreline into a vibrant natural space along Lake Ontario,” the $59-million conservation area is a joint restoration project led by Credit Valley Conservation, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Region of Peel. The cities of Mississauga and Toronto have also contributed to the substantial project.

CVC officials urge the public to come out on Saturday and help “celebrate the transformation of Mississauga’s shoreline into a vibrant new conservation destination.”

E-bikes will be available free of charge at the public grand opening for people to use on the Waterfront Trail and explore other trails as well, organizers say.

Other family-friendly activities and interactive experiences are also on tap for Saturday.

We’re 1️⃣ day away! You’re invited to the grand opening of the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area tomorrow. 🥳

Enjoy guided hikes and family-friendly activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as we celebrate the transformation of Mississauga’s shoreline into a vibrant new conservation… pic.twitter.com/AxenKas0Ga

— Credit Valley Conservation (@CVC_CA) May 29, 2026

“It’s a chance to come together, explore something new and experience a space designed for people and nature to connect. Be part of this exciting new chapter on Mississauga’s waterfront,” CVC said in an online public invitation.

Continuing, those behind the project noted the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area “is a place for exploration, reflection and connection with nature, and it offers expansive landscapes and stunning views of the lake.”

Visitors can explore scenic trails, boardwalks and lookout points, discover newly created habitats and experience “a place designed to reconnect people and wildlife with the waterfront.”

The new conservation area also features “restored wetlands, meadows and shoreline habitat already supporting fish, birds, turtles and other wildlife along Lake Ontario,” CVC said. 

An earlier aerial view of the site of the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area in Mississauga.

CVC officials added Saturday’s opening marks the beginning of a “new chapter” for Mississauga’s waterfront and also “highlights the community partnerships and collective effort that brought this ambitious project to life.”

Expected to be an environmental “gem” in the southeast corner of Canada’s seventh-largest city, the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area was initially expected to open last July before it encountered a nearly year-long delay.

Built on a previously degraded section of shoreline, the conservation area reuses construction rubble and fill as a sustainable resource to create a greenspace that will connect the community back to Lake Ontario, project leaders said earlier.

🎉 We’re two days away from the grand opening of the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area. Take part in the opening day programming on May 30 including a sunrise ceremony at 6 a.m. Make your way to the Indigenous Teaching Amphitheatre, about a 10-minute walk from the conservation… pic.twitter.com/Yl2rtIm2ag

— Credit Valley Conservation (@CVC_CA) May 28, 2026

Lakeview Village, a large new mixed-use community, and the new conservation area are being developed on the site that was once home to Lakeview Generating Station. It was shut down in 2005, complete with the controlled demolition of the iconic smokestacks known for decades as “The Four Sisters.”

Among the relatively recent developments at the conservation area site was the placement of two new pedestrian bridges last September (see video below).

Officials said those crossings “will connect trails, boardwalks and lookouts across the 26-hectare waterfront site, transforming a former industrial space into a vibrant green oasis for people and wildlife.”

One of the boardwalks at the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area that will soon be crowded with visitors.

Credit Valley Conservation officials said earlier those who visit the large natural area will enjoy a number of stunning sights and peaceful surroundings, including:

• Scenic trails along the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.
• Accessible boardwalks through wetlands and natural habitats.
• Beautiful views of Lake Ontario.
• Wildlife-watching opportunities to see birds and other species.
• Meadows, wetlands and forests restored for nature.
• Connections to nearby parks and the waterfront trail network.

For more information, visit the CVC website.

(Cover photo/all photos: Credit Valley Conservation)