May 25, 2026 | Mississauga, ON – Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), in partnership with Peel Region and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), invites residents and visitors to celebrate the grand opening of the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area, a new 26-hectare waterfront destination and one of the most significant shoreline restoration and greenspace projects in the region’s history.
The Grand Opening celebration will take place on Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Families, community members and visitors are invited to explore this newly restored section of Mississauga’s Lake Ontario shoreline. For early risers, there will be a sunrise ceremony at 6 a.m. conducted by Raiden Levesque, an Oshkabewis (helper) and firekeeper from the Métis Nation and the Eagle Spirits of Great Waters drummers. The gathering will feature storytelling, singing and a sacred fire.
More than a decade in the making, this conservation area represents a transformative achievement in habitat creation and waterfront revitalization.
The project is a collaborative effort by Peel Region, CVC and TRCA, working together with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the cities of Mississauga and Toronto and dedicated community advocates and funding partners. Together, they transformed a formerly degraded shoreline into a thriving conservation area, featuring vital coastal wetland and meadow habitats, recreational trails and dedicated Indigenous placemaking spaces.
The project’s innovative approach to habitat creation has been recognized with an international award from the Society for Ecological Restoration for excellence in urban ecological restoration.
Through a series of consultations with Indigenous partners, community members and partner organizations, Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area offers an accessible network of trails, boardwalks, lookouts and gathering spaces. These amenities showcase the site’s diverse cultural and ecological history, while providing scenic connections to wetlands, grasslands, forest environments and Lake Ontario as well as a brand-new section of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.
Quotes:
“This opening represents a transformative achievement in habitat creation and waterfront revitalization and reflects what’s possible when partners and community come together around a shared vision. Through years of collaboration, we have built a new shoreline that restores ecological function and creates a welcoming, accessible Lake Ontario waterfront for the community.”
— Terri LeRoux, Chief Administrative Officer at Credit Valley Conservation
“This transformation goes beyond restoring land; it creates a shared space where people can gather and connect with nature along the Lake Ontario waterfront. The new Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area expands access to greenspace and offers lasting opportunities for everyone who lives, works, or spends time in the area to experience and enjoy nature.”
— Terri LeRoux, Chief Administrative Officer at Credit Valley Conservation
As a member of the Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) I am so thrilled to see the long-awaited opening of the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area which marks a transformative moment for the Lakeview community. For more than 15 years, CVC and TRCA have worked on this project to bring a vision, where residents come together and share in the discovery of the beauty of nature at this restored stretch of the shoreline in the City of Mississauga.
— Stephen Dasko, City of Mississauga Councillor, Ward 1
“The Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area includes over three kilometres of new trails to walk, run, roll, or bike in nature. The Government of Canada is proud to support projects like this that revitalize our waterfront and preserve Indigenous culture while supporting biodiversity and offering safe routes for residents to use active modes of travel.”
— Charles Sousa, Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Lakeshore
“Through close collaboration with the TRCA and CVC, Peel Region’s investment has helped bring a new conservation area to life—one that reconnects millions of urban residents with nature while restoring vital wildlife habitat. This landmark project reflects our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and to building a healthy, safe, and connected community for generations to come.”
— Nando Iannicca, Peel Regional Chair and CEO
“Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is incredibly proud of our partnership and work with Credit Valley Conservation in turning the vision for the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area into reality through advancing the environmental assessment, design, and construction and restoration of this key new segment of the Mississauga waterfront and Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.
— John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
This transformative, leading-edge project includes restored creeks, wetlands, meadows, forests and shoreline habitats and offers spectacular views of Lake Ontario. We are grateful for the strong support and partnership of the Region of Peel, City of Mississauga, Government of Canada and the Lakeview Community Partners in helping reclaim this landscape as a legacy to former TRCA Board member Jim Tovey and as a valuable asset for our future.”
— John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
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Building the Landform: A Purpose‑Built Greenspace
The creation of Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area was a decade long process that included an environmental assessment, engineering and design planning, permitting, landform construction, habitat restoration and Indigenous placemaking. Notable achievements include:
- Construction of an entirely new 26‑hectare landform, using two million cubic metres of clean soil and rubble from Peel Region capital projects that was diverted from waste sites and repurposed for restoration.
- Planting over 10 hectares with 42,200 trees and shrubs, and more than 76,321 wetland plants.
- More than 3.7 kilometres of new trails throughout the conservation area with rest areas every 90 metres including 170-metre raised boardwalk surrounding new wetlands, offering close‑up views of restored habitats.
- A $60.0 million investment from Peel Region
- A $4.14 million investment from the Government of Canada through the Active Transportation Fund that supports 1.9‑kilometres of new waterfront trail, 1.7 kilometres of other recreational trails, two new pedestrian bridges, wetland boardwalk and other public realm amenities. These trails create an important link between Toronto and Mississauga, completing the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and extending the Trans Canada Trail, and provide connections to public transit facilities.
- Indigenous placekeeping spaces including the Gateway Drums and Indigenous Teaching Amphitheatre developed in partnership with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, which recognize the ongoing and enduring presence of Indigenous People in the Credit River Watershed.
- Wildlife already using the site, reflecting early ecological success, with monitoring to date recording 75 bird species, 10 butterfly species, 38 fish species, 2 frog species, 14 mammal species and 36 wetland species.
The project was generously funded by Peel Region. The project is also funded in part by the Government of Canada.
Grand Opening Day Details
Saturday, May 30, 2026
- Park hours: sunrise to sunset
- Activities: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Parking: Marie Curtis Park
- Access: Enter and exit through Marie Curtis Park via the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail
Sunrise Ceremony Event Details
- Saturday, May 30, 2026
- 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.
- Location: Indigenous Teaching Amphitheatre
For event updates and visitor information, visit cvc.ca/JimToveyLakeviewOpening.
Photos: The following photos are available for media use, with captions provided. Please credit photo use to CVC. Link here.
Digital Media Kit
Curated information about Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area for the media, can be found at cvc.ca/JimToveyLakeviewMedia.
About Jim Tovey
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. A passionate environmental advocate, Jim championed the revitalization of the Lakeview shoreline; his leadership and unwavering commitment were instrumental in bringing this transformative habitat creation project to life.
About Credit Valley Conservation
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is a local conservation authority established by the Ontario government in 1954 to protect, restore and enhance the natural environment of the Credit River watershed. That watershed is the area of land where all rainfall, snowmelt and runoff drains (“sheds”) into lands and waters flowing into the Credit River. CVC creates connections between people and nature, knowledge and action. It inspires a deep appreciation for the role of nature in keeping people connected, healthy and happy. CVC is a member of Conservation Ontario.
About Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Since 1957, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), as enabled through the provincial Conservation Authorities Act, has taken action to enhance our region’s natural environment and protect our land, water, and communities from the impacts of flooding and increasingly extreme weather events – Ontario’s leading cause of public emergencies.
As the region’s first line of defence against natural hazards, TRCA maintains vital infrastructure and provides programs and services that promote public health and safety, protecting people and property. TRCA mobilizes a science-based approach to provide sound policy advice, leveraging its position as a not-for-profit operating in the broader public sector to achieve collective impacts within our communities and across all levels of government. To learn more about TRCA,visit trca.ca.
About Peel Region
Peel Region works with residents and partners to create a healthy, safe, and connected Community for Life for approximately 1.6 million people and over 200,000 businesses in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon. Peel’s services touch the lives of residents every day. For more information, explore peelregion.ca and follow us on X @regionofpeel and Instagram @peelregion.ca.
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Media Contact
Dawn Cripps
Supervisor, Marketing and Communications
Credit Valley Conservation
M: 437-688-9773
Email