Two parks with new names officially unveiled in Mississauga

Two east-end parks in Mississauga were officially introduced — or reintroduced — on Friday bearing their new names.

To honour the city’s growing Filipino community, Philippine Park was officially unveiled to the public at a ceremony attended by City of Mississauga officials and members of the community.

Located steps south of Toronto Pearson Airport on Matheson Boulevard East, the newly named green space was previously known as Max Ward Park.

On the same day, the new Max Ward Memorial Park was officially unveiled on the grounds that used to be called Danville Park, located to the slight northwest of Philippine Park and just west of Canada’s biggest and busiest airport.

If it seems a bit confusing, it shouldn’t be. Simply put, city officials — the idea was initially floated early last month by Mayor Carolyn Parrish — wanted to honour the Filipino community with a dedicated park.

Mississauga officials and members of the community gathered on Friday for the official renaming of Philippine Park.

The mayor suggested at the time the park-name switcheroo 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.

Aviation enthusiasts and others have regularly gathered at the old Danville Park (now Max Ward Memorial Park), located on Danville Road a few blocks from Pearson, to watch planes take off and land.

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.

One of the new park signs on display. (All photos: City of Mississauga)

In authorizing the new park names, city officials noted the moves recognize “Mississauga’s diversity and history.”

They added the two parks “are more than just green spaces; they’re places for families, friends and the community to come together and enjoy activities like softball and tennis (Philippine Park) or cricket, tobogganing and plane spotting (Max Ward Memorial Park).

“This is just one way we’re honouring and celebrating the stories and people that make Mississauga such a great place to live, work and play.”

Map shows proximity of the old Max Ward Park site (at centre right, now Philippine Park) to both the old Danville Park (at centre left, now Max Ward Memorial Park) and Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga.