New Waterfront Destination Opens to the Public Saturday, May 30
After more than a decade of planning, collaboration and community vision, we’re excited to welcome visitors to the grand opening of Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area on Saturday, May 30.
This long-awaited milestone marks the transformation of a once-industrial stretch of Mississauga’s shoreline into a vibrant new waterfront park where people can connect with nature along Lake Ontario.
Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area is a newly constructed 26-hectare greenspace located along Mississauga’s eastern shoreline, next to the emerging Lakeview Village community. The conservation area was created on the bed of Lake Ontario as a lake-fill project and is within the Head of the Lake Treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
Working together, Credit Valley Conservation, Peel Region and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority have transformed this waterfront into a thriving natural destination, shaped by stewardship, innovation and respect for the land.
The conservation area is named in honour of the late Jim Tovey, the former Mississauga and Peel Region Councillor and dedicated CVC and TRCA Board of Director. His strong commitment to environmental conservation, the Lakeview community and the future of Lake Ontario was instrumental in bringing the vision of the conservation area to life.
Designed for People and Nature
For the first time, people can experience this stretch of Mississauga’s waterfront up close.
Visitors can explore 3.6 kilometres of trails, including 1.9 kilometres of the Waterfront Trail, that has been rerouted away from busy Lakeshore Road and closer to the water, creating a safer, more scenic experience.
Through collaboration and partnership with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, community advisory members and project partners, the site features an accessible network of trails, boardwalks, lookouts and gathering spaces including an Indigenous Teaching Amphitheatre. These elements create opportunities to experience the lake, wetlands, grasslands and forests while reflecting the area’s rich cultural and ecological history.
Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area represents what is possible when partners, communities and nature come together.
Building New Land, Restoring Natural Systems
Transforming this site required new thinking about how land could be created and restored. Approximately two million cubic metres of clean soil and rubble were reused to build the new landform, reducing the need for thousands of truck trips outside the region.
The innovative approach supported shoreline restoration, reconnected historic creek systems and created one of the largest additions to Lake Ontario’s waterfront greenspace in generations. Today, the conservation area includes:
- 1,600 metres of newly established shoreline
- 5.3 hectares of grassland habitat
- 5.6 hectares of forest habitat
- 4 hectares of young, naturally evolving habitat that supports pollinators and wildlife, referred to as successional habitat
- 5.3 hectares of wetland habitat
Together, these restored habitats help create a healthier, more resilient shoreline that supports biodiversity and long-term ecosystem health. More than 76,000 wetland plants and 38,000 trees and shrubs have also been planted to help the landscape thrive for generations to come.
Things To Do
- Hiking and walking: Explore trails, boardwalks, bridges and public gathering areas.
- Wildlife viewing: Watch for birds, wetland species and wildlife throughout the site.
- Cycling and e-mobility: Cycle through the conservation area on the Waterfront Trail. E-bikes and e-scooters are permitted on the Waterfront Trail only.
Grand Opening
Join us on Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate the official opening of Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area.
The day will begin with a sunrise ceremony at 6 a.m., followed by free family activities starting at 10 a.m.
Visitors can explore the new conservation area with a complimentary e-bike, courtesy of Bird Canada, connect with project partners and learn more about the habitat restoration that brought this remarkable landscape to life.
Plan your visit and learn more at cvc.ca/JimToveyLakeviewOpening.
Is there accessible parking for disabled seniors ?
The closest car access to Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation is to park at Marie Curtis Park located at 2 Forty Second St, Etobicoke. Parking is free and there are three public parking lots. From the parking lot, follow the Waterfront Trail west along Lake Ontario. The trail leads directly into the conservation area.
Where exactly is it?? Was looking for it today. Is it east or west of the sewage plant.?
Hi there, Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area is a new, built landform south of G.E Booth and bordered by Marie Curtis Park in the east and the future Lakeview Development in the west. You can access the conservation area by walking, wheeling or cycling by following the Waterfront Trail heading west through Marie Curtis Park.
The Waterfront Trail within Jim Tovey Lakeview is not a through trail. Visitors must enter and exit through Marie Curtis Park.
Will fishing be allowed?
Hi there, fishing from the armour stone revetments, cobblestone, islands, bridges, sand beaches, wetlands, barges and creeks is unsafe and is not permitted.
Why not an access point within the City of Mississauga ? Toronto’s Marie Curtis Park in south-west Etobicoke used to be a nice place to go, but is no longer considered safe by many. Plus, to have to park at Marie Curtis Park and walk into Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area is not conducive to the physical abilities of a lot of older folks, or others physically challenged. How far is that walk to reach the place where the Opening Day sunrise ceremony will be held on May 30th ?
Hi – thanks for reaching out! In the future, access will open from the Lakeview Village Parks development once construction is complete. This will provide an access point to the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area from the City of Mississauga. The Sunrise Ceremony will be held at the Indigenous Teaching Amphitheatre, which is approximately a 20-minute walk along the Waterfront Trail connecting Marie Curtis Park and the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area. The trail is rated ‘accessible,’ meaning the surface is firm and stable, obstacle-free and has no stairs. It’s suitable for assistive devices, including wheelchairs and scooters. Rest areas are located no more than 90 metres apart along the trail.