Trinity Square (Toronto) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trinity Square |
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| Public square | |
 Walkway linking Trinity Square with Bay Street (looking towards Bay Street). |
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| Features: | labyrinth, water features |
| Opening date: | 1845 |
| Surface: | granite,concrete |
| Location: | East of Bay Street, south of Dundas St W Toronto, ON, Canada |
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Location of Trinity Square in Toronto |
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Trinity Square is a cool public space in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It's like a peaceful park right in the middle of the busy city! The square is surrounded by big buildings like the Toronto Eaton Centre mall, an office building called Bell Trinity Square, and the Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel.
The most important part of Trinity Square is the Church of the Holy Trinity. This church is part of the Anglican Church, which is a Christian church. You can also find the Henry Scadding House and the Holy Trinity Rectory here. These are old, special buildings that have been kept safe because of their history.
In the square, there's a pretty fountain, a calm pond, and a unique walking path called a labyrinth. You can get to Trinity Square mainly from James Street, which runs north from Queen Street. But you can also walk there from Bay Street and Dundas Street, or even through the Eaton Centre mall!
Contents
A Look Back: History of Trinity Square
Trinity Square has a long and interesting past.
How the Square Began
The land where Trinity Square is now used to be a large property called the Terauley estate. It belonged to a man named John Simcoe Macaulay. His father, James Macaulay, bought the land way back in 1797. In 1845, John Macaulay sold his home and some of his land. He gave part of the land to build the Church of the Holy Trinity.
By the year 1900, the area around the church became known as the Eaton's Annex. This was part of the famous Eaton's department store. The spot where the Bell Trinity Square office building stands today (built in 1982) was once home to the 10-story Eaton's House Furnishing Building, built in 1919.
Saving the Church and Square
In the 1970s, the Eaton's complex was torn down after a fire and demolition. There was a plan to build the huge Toronto Eaton Centre mall. This plan meant the church and Trinity Square might be destroyed.
But the people who went to the church didn't give up! They protested and worked hard to save their church. Because of their efforts, the mall's design had to be changed. This saved the Church of the Holy Trinity. People in Toronto also protested to save Old City Hall, which is just south of the square.
What Makes Trinity Square Special: Design and Features
Trinity Square is designed to be a beautiful and peaceful place.
Walking Paths and Water Features
The square's paths are made of different types of stone, like granite and concrete. These stones are laid out in cool patterns. Many trees line the walkways, making them feel green and shady.
There's a lovely water feature here. Water falls from a tall wall into a decorative pond. Water also flows along a small, artificial stream next to the walkway that leads to Bay Street. This walkway is designed so that as you walk, you see the Church of the Holy Trinity perfectly in front of you. It also gives great views of the church from other nearby streets.
Near Bay Street, the walkway has two tall, blue metal columns with lanterns on top. These columns are shaped in three parts, wider at the bottom. They are placed to frame the two towers of the Church of the Holy Trinity, making a grand entrance to the square.
The Toronto Public Labyrinth
Next to the church, there's a clock tower that looks similar to the columns on Bay Street. You'll also see three large archway-like structures. These are the entrance to the Toronto Public Labyrinth.
A labyrinth is a very old symbol, more than three thousand years old! It's a symbol of a journey or a pilgrimage. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one path, and you can't get lost because there are no dead ends. The labyrinth pattern in Trinity Square is based on a famous one built in the 13th century at the Chartres Cathedral in France.
Many labyrinths are found near water. This one is special because it's built over the old path of Taddle Creek. This stream was buried underground over 150 years ago. Granite blocks set into the ground at the labyrinth's entrance and near the water feature remind us of this hidden creek. The labyrinth also points towards true north, shown by lines in the granite blocks.
