The Canadian New York: Sankofa Square— Toronto Street Photography with Blake Ferguson
- Blake Ferguson
- Apr 9, 2014
- 9 min read
Updated: Jan 8
While it was all fun and games growing up in, conquering the boxy and quiet streets of Newmarket, Ontario, a town where routine moves at a walking pace, I would be lying if I said that the creative inspirations of photography did not occasionally run dry.
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Newmarket vs. Toronto Street Photography
In a place where parking lots are more common than pedestrians, and the buildings rarely stretch above three stories, the photographic subjects and camera can begin feeling more like a mirror than a window. Through a bland, little boxes on the hillside type-vibe, the photographer in me knew that I was seeking more adventure, subjects and vantage points.
The heart of photography is not found in your surroundings, but is sparked by what you see in them. That said, when you have grown up in York Region, there is an immense craving for more. More texture. More movement. More life. Whether you are a photographer, graphic designer, or creative artist, the itch for inspirational escape is inevitable.
After positive feedback about the photographs taken with my iPhone camera, both on Instagram and close family and friends, the excitement was real when my good friend and fellow hobbyist photographer, Ben Cowderoy, handed me his Sony A300 DSLR. It was like unlocking a portal. That first real DSLR camera felt like an extension of my eyes, and suddenly, the usual sights demanded new attention. It was only inevitable that I found myself on the other angle, as for all of the cityscape photographers and street artists that have inspired me on my social media journey this far.
Fuelled by excitement, good company, and a need for something fresh, some close friends and I set off for downtown with the focus on Toronto street photography as our only aim. Well, for me anyway, while close friends enjoyed the pace of the city through sightseeing and standard retail shopping therapy.
If you are born and raised in the 6ix or predominantly the GTA, you must have crossed paths with the CN Tower atleast once. Through childhood basketball trips and family drives travelling out of Newmarket, Ontario, I have had the pleasure many of times, where it was always exciting, but had become more familiar. But now unfolds my first experience as a street photographer to capture and compose. Turning the corner of Simcoe Street and witnessing it from a new perspective- the CN Tower peaked upright like a sentinel through the gaps of the urban sprawl made my pulse spike.
Past times travelling to Toronto has been acquinted by the collection of family, and agenda, where I was firstly experiencing the freedom that was the city. It was just me, my friends, the hum of the city and my Sony A300 DSLR camera in hand, excited to create aesthetic street photography visuals.
Allowing the adventure to lead itself, we were not pressed to collect for a specific photography portfolio, there was no end designatation or intended goal— just a group of teenager out to relish their summer days, drifting from boutique to back alley, intuition led. The best compositions sometimes unfold in the unplanned and the unpredictable. The in-between moments most people miss.
I was struck by the photographic hype the second we arrived from the subway into Dundas Square, which, after revising this article, is now known as Sankofa Square since late 2023. The digital billboards and constant movement alongside the raw undercurrent beneath it all. Graffiti-tagged poles, stained sidewalks, the faint scent of fried food and exhaust — it was gritty, imperfect, and electric. The kind of place where every corner held a possible story, if you were still enough to capture it patiently.
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The Yonge & Dundas Square Rebranding
Yonge-Dundas Square was renamed Sankofa Square in December 2023, in reflection of Canadian history and in an attempt to steer a better course. The name Sankofa derives from a Ghanaian meaning: to revisit and retrieve— symbolizing reflection and learning from the past. This change was part of Toronto and outside initiatives to address historical figures and inreputable legacies, with the need to distance associations from Henry Dundas and his controversial roles in the transatlantic slave trade.
Now— let’s get back to the bliss of summer days, adventuring downtown Toronto!
Sankofa Square is more than just a public plaza — it is the pulse point of Toronto- a cultural crossroad buzzing with performers, preachers, tourists, and quiet onlookers alike, where I already imagine a street portraiture series, directed from this block itself. From portait potential and an overwhelming cityscape, Toronto is a dream for the street photographer.
As we drifted further into the centennial-era blocks of Toronto, I could not help but feel like I was walking through a dreamscape that blurred both time and influence. Brick-and-stone facades kissed the edges of modern glass towers — a clash of history and future frozen in sunlight.
Reflections danced off windows and puddles like they were performing for the lens of my Sony A300. Every step felt like a frame from a movie I did not know I was starring in. I love Newmarket, though the city's depths come with more revitalization through upbeat and energetic involvement. Summer in Toronto delivers a cinematic clarity you cannot manufacture, where vivid green leaves frame in sharp contrast against beige buildings and deep, cloudless skies.
Maybe I played too much Grand Theft Auto- but the endless streets of man-made structures, urban waste and grunge-like atmospheres, I was out to capture the same. While consuming visuals from inspirational outlets via Instagram, a source came from street photography, cityscapes and portraiture of characters in the city, such as New York. Where I itched to compose- I felt uncomfortable as a hobbyist capturing street-photography portraits where strangers were the primary subject.
Then there was that New York-style fries truck. Parked right where you would want it to be — rugged, chrome, and unapologetically planted in front of a backdrop of urban scrawl. I switched to monochrome instinctively, wanting to strip the moment down to form and contrast. Grit in the metal, sheen in the grease, and shadow play that made it feel timeless.
As golden hour approached, I did not want it to end. The Sony A300 picked up the warmth in the bricks, the cool tint of shaded alleyways, and the sun slicing through high-rises like light through stained glass. For the first time, I felt like I was not just capturing the city — I felt absorbed within. I could have easily kept shooting through twilight, chasing silhouettes and glows until the city dimmed — but reality called us home. The train ride back to Newmarket felt quiet, like waking up from a lucid dream. But something was different now.
The city had imprinted itself on me through its layers, motion and its refusal to stand still. I rested knowing this marked the beginning of something much bigger — a lifetime of exploring, wandering, and capturing.
4 Fun Facts about Sankofa Square, Previously Known as Yonge-Dundas Square:
1. Designed as a Modern Public Square
Sankofa Square was redesigned in 2002 by Brown and Storey Architects as part of a revitalization project for the Downtown Yonge area. The square features a granite surface, a raised stage for performances, and a series of fountains designed for interactive water-play. The fountains have a sophisticated filtration system to maintain pool-quality water, ensuring safety for public use.
2. A Hub for Events and Performances
Sankofa Square hosts diverse events throughout the year, including concerts, cultural festivals, community gatherings, and public art displays. Notable events have included the Toronto International Film Festival, Pride Week celebrations, and WorldPride closing ceremonies in 2014.
3. The Toronto Version of Times Square
Sankofa Square is often compared to Times Square in New York City due to its vibrant atmosphere enhanced by large digital billboards and neon lights. The Yonge and Dundas intersection is one of the busiest in Canada, with over 100,000 pedestrians crossing daily using the first pedestrian scramble.
4. Managed Through a Public-Private Partnership
Sankofa Square is significant as the first public Square in Canada, maintained through a public-private partnership. Managed by the Sankofa Square Board of Management, a City of Toronto agency responsible for overseeing the Square and its operations, programming, and maintenance.
Sankofa Square is a dynamic and inclusive space showcasing the commitment of Toronto City Hall to pushing cultural diversity, public engagement, and historical reflection. Whether attending a live performance, participating in a community event, or simply enjoying the vibrant surroundings, the Square offers a unique experience in the heart.
While I hoped to experience more of the grunge the city proposed, I walked away as a satisfied hobbyist photographer through the street photography compositions collected through the concrete jungle and the architecture composed in the cityscape. Making way for the subway for the trip home, I had to pull off a gritty-like capture.
That lens has not seen half of what you have got to show me. I will be back for you, Toronto!
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...July 15, 2024 — New York could learn a few things from Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square, which has found ways to carve out moments of peace in the busiest part of the city.
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