Despite a petition with more than 30,000 names and an objection from several Toronto city councillors, Yonge-Dundas Square will be renamed Sankofa Square.

“I think the vast majority of the City of Toronto doesn’t think that we should be renaming this or other things,” said Councillor Stephen Holyday, who’s motion along with Councillor Brad Bradford, to put off the renaming indefinitely was voted down 18 to 5.

Mayor Olivia Chow continues to say property taxpayers will not pay for the rebranding cost of as much as $965,000.

It was back in 2021 under then-mayor John Tory that councillors voted to rename Dundas Street and other civic assets bearing the name of Henry Dundas, an 18th century Scottish politician who delayed abolition of the enslavement of African people to ensure it would ultimately end.

Mayor Olivia Chow and her current council pared down the plan to include only Yonge Dundas Square, two subway stations and the Jane Dundas Library. It was decided earlier this week, that the Jane Dundas library branch would be renamed after black human rights defender Daniel G. Hill III, father of acclaimed Canadian author Lawrence Hill and Grammy winning songwriter Dan Hill, who is a friend to ZoomerMedia.

In another decision at council Friday, Jon Burnside’s motion to create a fixed link bridge between mainland Toronto and the Island was approved for study which means city staff will report back to council on the feasibility of the idea early in 2025.