Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish and Ward 5 Councilor Natalie Hart Unveils the Philippine Park Sign.

FILE: Today, we celebrated the renaming of two parks in Ward 5 recognizing Mississauga’s diversity and history. Philippine Park, formerly named Max Ward Park, recognizes the achievements and contributions of Mississauga’s growing Filipino community, and Max Ward Memorial Park, formerly named Danville Park, honours the legacy of Maxwell William Ward, the founder of Wardair Airlines. (Photo: City of Mississauga – Municipal Government/Facebook)

Mississauga, ON — 2025/06/20 — The Filipino-Canadian community in Mississauga is celebrating a proud and historic milestone: the official renaming of Max Ward Park to Philippine Park. The Philippine Park signage was unveiled on June 20, 2025 by Mayor Carolyn Parrish and Ward 5 Councilo,r Natalie Hart in the presence of dozens of Filipino-Canadian Community Leaders and Mississaugans.  

The timing for the unveiling of Philippine Park couldn’t be more appropriate with June being celebrated nationally as Philippine Heritage Month.

The journey…

The idea of a park named after the Philippines started in April 2024 in a conversation between Kalayaan Centre president, Resty del Rosario, with the then Ward 5 Councilor, Carolyn Parrish during an event hosted by the Kalayaan Filipino Cultural Organization.  Shortly after the Philippine Festival Mississauga in September 2024, the leaders of the Philippine Festival paid a courtesy visit to the new Mayor to thank her for the support that the City of Mississauga has been providing to the Festival since 2011.

During this meeting, an official request for a park named after the Philippines was made by Resty del Rosario which was warmly supported by the Mayor.  Resty asked specifically for what was then Max Ward Park because of its very close proximity to the Kalayaan Centre. 

On June 11, 2025, Resty and other community leaders provided a deputation to the Mayor and the City Council on what the Philippine Park would mean to the Filipino-Canadians living west of the GTA.  The decision was unanimously approved by Mississauga City Council on June 11, 2025, marking a moment of recognition, inclusion, and cultural pride for one of the city’s most vibrant communities.

The proposal to rename the park was the result of a shared vision—one that brought together community leaders, cultural groups, and passionate individuals who have long dreamed of a public space that reflects Filipino heritage. This community-led initiative received full support from Mayor Carolyn Parrish and the City Council, and is now a visible symbol of the Filipino presence in Mississauga.

“This is a victory for the whole Filipino community,” said Resty del Rosario, President of the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre (KCCC). “It’s not about one person or one organization—it’s about what we’ve achieved together. Philippine Park is a space that belongs to all of us.”

The vision…

The park, located just steps away from the Kalayaan Centre, will serve as a natural gathering place for cultural celebrations, family events, and community programs. Plans are already in motion to form a Philippine Park Community Task Force that will work with the City of Mississauga to ensure the park becomes a vibrant and inclusive space for all – a park where memories are made.

“We appreciate the contributions of everyone who supported this proposal,” said del Rosario. “We especially acknowledge the contributions of Rick Falco and his group, who, like us, believed in the importance of this park. Let’s now turn our focus to building something lasting—together.”

The Filipino community in Mississauga—nearly 40,000 strong—has long been a pillar of the city, with thousands working as nurses, PSWs, educators, entrepreneurs, and other professionals. The renaming of Philippine Park is a symbolic but powerful gesture of appreciation for decades of service and sacrifice.

“As we celebrate Filipino Heritage Month this June, the timing couldn’t be more perfect,” added del Rosario. “This park is a gift not just to us, but to future generations. It will be a space for unity, culture, and connection—right here in the heart of Mississauga.”