Pedestrian bridges and boardwalks will allow visitors to the new Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area in Mississauga to catch striking natural views along the waterfront. (Photo: Credit Valley Conservation X)

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 the opening of a huge new waterfront conservation area in Mississauga’s south end in less than two weeks. 

After a delay of nearly a year, the 64-acre Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area will welcome its first visitors on Saturday, May 30.

The public grand opening of the space, described by those who’ve combined forces to create it as “a landmark project that’s been more than a decade in the making,” runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and people of all ages are welcome. Admission is free.

For those who are interested, a 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 massive undertaking 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 and help “celebrate the transformation of Mississauga’s shoreline into a vibrant new conservation destination.”

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

They added the $59-million conservation area, named for the late Mississauga city councillor who worked to bring the project to fruition, “is a place for exploration, reflection and connection with nature, and 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 says opening day on May 30, which marks the beginning of a “new chapter” for Mississauga’s waterfront, will also “highlight 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.

One of the boardwalks at the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area that will soon be crowded with visitors. (All photos: Credit Valley Conservation)

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.

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.”

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.

 


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