Victoria Memorial Square

This is a solemn 1812 War Memorial that was created by Walter Allward (1907) at Victoria Memorial Square, upon the site of the former military burial grounds. What you see is a bronze bust of a haunted, one-armed soldier dressed in 1812 military uniform, reflecting upon misery and suffering of war. The bust sits atop a pedestal with plaques describing military conflicts related to the War of 1812. Another point of interest that you can see at Victoria Memorial Square is the handful of old headstones from the days of military burial grounds that have been grouped together for display within the park.

Victoria Memorial Square is a little patch of history tucked in the middle of all the new condos. What makes it unique is knowing you're standing on Toronto's oldest European military burial ground—hundreds of soldiers and their families are still interred here. That connection to the past, especially the War of 1812 monument and the old clustered headstones, gives it a quiet, contemplative vibe that's hard to find downtown. Plus, it's a lovely green space for the neighbourhood. On the flip side, because it is an old cemetery, there are restrictions, and sometimes the upkeep on the grass and paths isn't amazing, which is a common complaint from locals. It's a peaceful spot for a picnic, but it's really more of a memorial and quiet park than a bustling square. The proximity to all the new development like The Well is great, but it makes the park feel smaller than ever.

Awesome little playground in the corner that's fenced off with slides, swings and always filled with awesome neighborhood-donated toys too. Used to have a great view of the CN Tower before some recent condos went up but still an awesome place to play!

It would be a beautiful park if it had maintenance. Overgrown grass and weeds abound. A pity not to take care of it since the summer is so short...

A lovely park with historic significance. This site was the location of a former burial ground for military personnel. Some old gravestones at the east end of the park serve as a remembrance. A monument in the middle of the park pays homage to the war of 1812.

Enjoyed sitting on a bench and having my lunch on such a nice day. There are many benches to sit at. It’s in a great location and so close to The Well!

When I went it was covered in snow but the square was still beautiful. I walked past it everyday and the story behind how it came to be was amazing.

The description mistakenly says “harbour views” though nothing of this sort exists here.

This is a great park to go if you need a quiet place in the middle of the city, if you are a history buff, OR if you have a furry friend that likes to run around. It is a designated Historic Site, and is Toronto's first military cemetery. This park is currently undergoing remodelling, which will see a restoration of some of the tombstones, addition of lighting, pathways, trees and seating. As of today, the park is fully enclosed with construction fencing, that is actually excellent for letting your dog off-leash.

What a beautiful small park within the city that pays homage to the military with a row of tombstones along the east side of the square. This park is considered a historical site by the city and was included as a Heritage Property. Being close to Fort York, it definitely has lots of history and was once a burial ground. Since the revitalization of the park some years ago, it definitely is a welcomed sight to the neighbourhood with a decent size enclosed playground for the kiddies. Plus the park contains many trees and benches for relaxing while taking in the city/condos view. I'm a frequent walker/runner past the park and have at times cut across the square, but this afternoon during my dog sitting walk, I found myself taking photos within the square and reading the plaques that were located at the corner of Wellington and Portland. Definitely a lovely park full of history and happy that the city managed to preserve the beauty of the park while restoring the statue in the centre of the park and the many tombstones that still remains.

This park is a perfect fit for this neighbourhood due to the downtown proximity and the residences surrounding it. Victoria Memorial Park pays its due respects to those who fought in the War of 1812 in Fort York. Victoria Memorial Park has a look and feel of a micro Central Park and is a great place for those to realx and to spend time with your dog. This is an important part of downtown Toronto as well as a historic piece of Canada that everyone should visit and learn about.