Two parks set to get new names in Mississauga

Two parks in Mississauga’s east end are set to be renamed as city officials look to honour the “large and growing” local Filipino community.

City councillors will be presented with a motion next Wednesday calling for Max Ward Park, located steps south of Toronto Pearson Airport on Matheson Boulevard East, to be renamed Philippine Park.

The motion, introduced by Ward 5 Coun. Natalie Hart and to be dealt with at Mississauga city council on June 11, also recommends the name Max Ward Memorial Park then be given to what is currently Danville Park, located to the slight northwest and just west of Canada’s biggest and busiest airport.

The idea was initially floated early last month by Mayor Carolyn Parrish. She told councillors and senior city staff at the time such a plan would work out well since it would appropriately attach the Max Ward name — he was an aviation entrepreneur who founded Wardair Ltd. airlines in 1952 — to a park in Mississauga known for its airplane viewing platform.

The entrance to Danville Park, just west of Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga. The city is considering renaming this park after Max Ward.

Aviation enthusiasts and others regularly gather at Danville Park, located on Danville Road a few blocks from Pearson, to watch planes take off and land.

In her motion, Hart noted the City of Mississauga has obtained consent from the estate representative of Ward to remove his name from the one park and then attach it to the other, which will be known as Max Ward Memorial Park.

The motion also indicates the city consulted with Mississauga’s Filipino community prior to moving forward with plans.

Wardair Ltd., later Wardair Canada, was founded in 1952 and at one point was the third-largest airline in Canada. It ceased operations in 1989, when it became part of the new Canadian Airlines at the time. Canadian Airlines then merged with Air Canada in 2001.

Map shows proximity of Max Ward Park to both Danville Park and Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga.