Berczy Park Plaque Honouring Claude Cormier

Overview

Claude Cormier shaped some of Toronto's most beloved public spaces. His creative vision brought Berczy Park, Sugar Beach, and many others to life. We hope to fulfill our St. Lawrence residents' wishes to honour the legacy of this great Canadian designer of our community.

Walk through Berczy Park on a sunny afternoon, and you'll find people sitting by the fountain, kids pointing at the dog sculptures, and neighbours stopping to chat. That lively, welcoming space didn't happen by accident — it was carefully designed by Claude Cormier (1960–2023), one of Canada's most celebrated landscape architects.

My office is working to install a commemorative plaque at Berczy Park to recognize Claude Cormier and the lasting impact of his work on Toronto's public life. This idea came directly from residents, who submitted it through Participatory Budgeting — a process that gives community members a real say in how local funds are spent. We're proud to carry it forward.

Funding

This project has a total budget of $10,000, funded through Section 37 Community Benefit Funds. These funds will be released to Heritage Toronto to design and work closely in partnership with our office to deliver this educational plaque.

Public Participation

This project sits at the Empower level of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Public Participation Spectrum — the highest level of public involvement.

Here's what that means in practice: residents didn't just weigh in on this project — they created it. The idea to honour Claude Cormier with a plaque was submitted by community members through the Participatory Budgeting process, where residents vote directly on how a portion of local funds is spent. Our office is here to make that community decision a reality.

This is public participation at its best — residents identifying a gap, proposing a solution, and seeing it through to action.

Timeline

Here's where things stand and what's coming next:

Now (Summer 2026): Detailed design and research are underway. Our office is working with Claude Cormier's former architectural firm to ensure the plaque reflects his legacy with care and accuracy.
Fall–Winter 2026: The plaque will go through the procurement process — this is the stage where it's formally designed, approved, and produced.
Spring 2027: Installation and an unveiling ceremony at Berczy Park. This will be a public event to mark the occasion and celebrate Claude Cormier's contribution to our city.

We'll share updates as the project moves forward, so stay tuned.

If you have questions in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out:

Sherwin Lau, Manager of Stakeholder Outreach and Engagement, Office of Councillor Chris Moise

Email: Sherwin.Lau@toronto.ca

Tel: 416-392-7903