Celebration Square vs Yonge-Dundas Square

Published June 5, 2013 at 1:48 am

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Although I do love the good ol’ Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto, I gotta stay true to my Mississauga and give a little insight as to why I believe our city’s ‘Celebration Square’ has its advantages (and might be better in more ways than one!). 
We’re bigger
We. Are. Huge.

Sitting on 6.6 acres the layout of our Celebration Square was done right so kudos to the contractors because this is a place for up to 50 000 people can party! In front of the giant stage spans about a hundred yards of plush lawn. Further back, up the stairs there is a wading pool with sprinklers for those hot summer days (and in the winter it is turned into a skating rink) ensuring that there is always something to do here, no matter the season.  

We are newer!

While Yonge-Dundas Square is beginning to feel like an old Toyota Corolla, I feel like Celebration Square still has that “new car smell”. Our stage is equipped with the latest in audio and visual gear, to ensure the 100 free public events/performances are top notch. We have a state-of-the-art light and sound system and two giant screens (ideal for the sports games and movies on Thursdays they conveniently play for us to watch!)  

The landscaping, cement work, layout, etc. are all very well kept and still look completely brand new. 
We’re cleaner!

Obviously when we’re going on the basis of cleanliness, Celebration Square wins-hands down. Although Torontonians have come a long way on the ‘litter’ issue, we are still cleaner. Unlike Yonge-Dundas Square, Celebration Square has yet been subject to bad graffiti or much vandalism. With all the different kinds of free festivals, concerts, and events it is nice to have a clean place to come celebrate where we can be proud to call our own.Our location rocks!

We are literally located in the heart of Mississauga. Straight across from Square One Shopping Centre and across from City Hall and the Living Arts Centre, Celebration Square is located in the centre of downtown Mississauga. Sure, we are not as developed as Toronto (yet) but we’re gettin’ there. Not to mention how awesome it is being located next to the new Marilyn Monroe buildings, which I think are the most visually stimulating pieces of work since Brad Pitt. That being said, it gives our Celebration Square an absolutely beautiful backdrop and an excuse to come check it out. With the Central Library and City Hall located just meters away, you really do feel like you’re at home in your city, your community.We are definitely friendlier!

This should come as no shock; we are nicer.

No word of a lie, there was a guy at Yonge-Dundas Square who called me cheap because I didn’t have any spare change to give to him. He commented on my Louis Vuitton clutch and walked away. I felt terrible but then I thought, “That would never happen at my Celebration Square!”

We are a multicultural city and I believe that is part of the reason people from Mississauga are friendlier as a whole. We are more accepting and tolerable because we are exposed to so many different types of people, nationalities, and cultures.

I attended the tree lighting ceremony at Celebration Square last December and I ended up socializing with half the people around me about what a champ our Mayor Hazel McCallion really is. (I mean, her speech was pretty awesome, I won’t lie.) Which brings me to my point that Celebration Square also wins in the friendliness department.  
So there you have it. Sure, I’m knocking Yonge-Dundas Square for reasons I feel we are better, but I will say this: when it comes to utilization, Yonge-Dundas Square has us beat! They utilize that space any way they can and whenever they can. Even on a mid-day Monday, there is a band up on stage rockin’ out a little afternoon pick-me-up for the people hanging out at Yonge-Dundas Square. As biased as I have been throughout this entire article, Celebration Square and Yonge-Dundas Square really are similar in many ways. 

However, with Mississauga growing and developing as fast as it has been, perhaps we are the new Yonge-Dundas Square…and that’s reason for celebration in my opinion!  
Check out all the events going on this summer at Celebration Square>

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