Frequently Asked Questions

Aside from the fixed permit fee, costs depend entirely on your event's specific requirements—such as duration, staffing levels, equipment, and setup needs. Sankofa Square staff cannot provide cost estimates over the phone or for events that have not formally applied for a date. Once a date is allocated, your designated Event Coordinator will help prepare a detailed estimate.

At this time, we do not offer discounted permit rates for half-day use. If your event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., you are welcome to book the Square, but the full-day permit fee will apply.

We keep our online calendar as up to date as possible. However, we often hold dates confidentially at an event host's request until they are ready to launch their press releases, or we may be awaiting final confirmation details. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

Sankofa Square restricts loud performances and amplified sound (including sound checks and emceeing) Monday through Friday to after 5:30 p.m. On weekends, amplified sound is permitted starting at 7:00 a.m. No loud performance may extend past 11:00 p.m. on any day to comply with City of Toronto Noise Bylaws.

Yes. Food service is permitted but requires prior approval from Toronto Public Health. Temporary Food Establishment forms must be submitted at least 21 days prior to your event. Alcohol can be served if you obtain the appropriate Special Occasion Permit (SOP) from the AGCO and utilize our approved fencing guidelines. Please note that no glass is allowed on the Square.

Sankofa Square is a fully AODA-compliant, barrier-free site that can comfortably hold up to 5,000 patrons depending on event configuration. Key venue features include:

• Stage: Permanent 36’ x 39’ covered stage (May–September)

• Utilities: Heavy-duty power drops and water access

• Amenities: Accessible public washrooms (P1 Level) and free public Wi-Fi

Yes. The bylaws of the Square prohibit any commercial activity, performances, sporting displays, or exhibits without a formal permit. Even brief activities (such as a 5-minute flash mob) require authorization.

No. The City of Toronto Bylaws prohibit commercial activity from being conducted on any of the sidewalks surrounding the Square.

Yes! Click here.

We operate 10 dedicated digital screens that are located directly on the Square. For more information regarding screen usage, click here.

Sankofa Square does not control the billboards surrounding the Square. For the contact information of surrounding billboard and digital advertising operators, you can find more information here.

As the Square is a public space, casual personal photography and video are completely welcome! However, for commercial photography, film, or video shoots, an activation permit must be obtained. This includes any shoot that requires a "set-up" or could impede day-to-day public activities or permitted events.

News teams, weather reporting, and all other forms of ENG (Electronic News Gathering) do not require a permit. If you are interested in coming on site for a reason like this please contact info@sankofasquare.ca to discuss availability and ease of access.

Sankofa Square is located within controlled airspace in downtown Toronto, in close proximity to medical helicopter landing pads and Billy Bishop Airport. Flight authorization is mandatory. Requests to operate a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (e.g., drones, UAVs) must be submitted to your Sankofa Square Representative at least 30 days prior to your shoot. All requests are reviewed by the Management Team, and approval is strictly at the discretion of the Sankofa Square Board of Management.

For more information, refer to the Drones and Remote Operated Aircraft Policy.

If you are planning a simple "down-on-one-knee" proposal, absolutely! If you are planning something dramatic involving props, lighting equipment, or a large group, you must book the Square as an event so it does not impede other programming.

Personal photographs are welcome, but you must work around the general public and existing events; you cannot section off areas.

For commercial-style shoots requiring equipment (props, lighting equipment, music, etc.), you will need to book the Square for a photoshoot and pay the associated booking fees. For more information on photography and film shoots, please click here.

Yes. Sankofa Square is an outdoor public space, and we respect the public's right to gather. However, protests and demonstrations can only be accommodated when the Square has not been previously permitted by another organization, and they must follow related rules and regulations.

Requests to utilize the Square for a rally should be directed to info@sankofasquare.ca for approval, and a Notice of Demonstration should be sent to Toronto Police Service.

No. While the Square respects the public's right to peaceful assembly, demonstrations are strictly prohibited from impeding, entering, or disrupting a space that has been previously permitted for an event. The Board of Management and our operations team maintain strict protocols with Toronto Police Service and municipal safety staff to ensure permitted event clients have full, unobstructed access to their licensed footprint.

Sankofa Square is a major economic driver for the downtown core. By hosting hundreds of commercial activations, brand pop-ups, and cultural festivals each year, the Square draws millions of visitors who subsequently support neighbouring restaurants, retail stores, and hotels. Furthermore, the events held at the Square create a powerful economic multiplier effect—generating thousands of employment opportunities for local artists, event production crews, security personnel, and gig workers. Because the Square operates as a self-sustaining civic asset, the revenue generated from commercial event permits and advertising helps fund the Square’s operations, reducing the reliance on municipal operating budgets.

Yes—in fact, every event at Sankofa Square is completely free for the public to attend! Whether we are hosting a major corporate brand activation, a community charity walk, or multi-day cultural celebrations like SankofaFest, our #HotSquareSummer programming, and more, there is never an admission fee. A core part of our mandate as a civic space is to remain fully accessible to all Torontonians, ensuring our hundreds of annual events, concerts, and pop-ups are always free and open to the community.

Beyond our direct economic impact, Sankofa Square delivers a significant Social Return on Investment (SROI) to the city. We provide a high-profile platform for registered charities, cultural organizations, and community groups to raise awareness, fundraise, and celebrate their heritage. By offering subsidized rates and dedicated programming space for non-profits, we ensure that diverse community groups have access to premium downtown real estate that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive, allowing them to amplify their vital causes in the heart of the city.

Sankofa Square operates with an annual gross budget of approximately $4 million. We receive approximately $1.5 million in core operations (site maintenance and security) funding from the City of Toronto, and our team is responsible for generating the remainder for programming and other activities. We achieve this by operating as a highly self-sustaining civic asset—offsetting the majority of our costs through self-generated revenue from commercial event permit fees, sponsorships, grants, and partnerships.

When factoring in our daily foot traffic and the sheer volume of year-round programming, our operational model is highly efficient compared to similar world-class civic spaces. By leveraging our self-generating revenue model, the City of Toronto receives a notable return on its core investment—securing a premier, safe, and fully activated downtown hub.

Additional budget information about Sankofa Square can be found on the City Budget section of the City of Toronto website.

Yes. Sankofa Square is one of the most heavily programmed and utilized public spaces in Canada. Our calendar is busier than ever; based on mid-year reporting from July 2026, the Square is tracking a 49% increase in overall event days compared to 2025, anticipating approximately 194 days of dedicated events by year's end. This momentum spans all sectors, including a 91% increase in commercial activations, a 54% increase in community events, and significant growth in partner-produced programming.

Beyond major festivals, the Square is continuously activated by daily initiatives, including our "Art in the Square" program (programmed for 278 days) and other offerings. Even on days without a scheduled stage production, we intentionally activate the space to serve as "Toronto's living room," outfitting the plaza with Muskoka chairs, umbrellas, bistro-style seating, and interactive games to provide a welcoming environment in the heart of the city.

It is also important to note that, like any major performing arts or event venue, the Square experiences operational "dark days"—the only difference is that our venue doesn't have walls. These occasional open days are essential periods between bookings required for setting up large-scale event infrastructure, safely taking down stages after a festival, or conducting necessary site maintenance.

Sankofa Square is a vibrant, open civic space where everyone is welcome. As one of Canada’s busiest pedestrian hubs, the massive daily foot traffic naturally creates a lively and inviting environment for millions of families, tourists, and residents each year.

To ensure the Square remains a comfortable destination for all Torontonians, we take a proactive, community-focused approach to venue management. The site is supported by standard venue cameras and staffed with dedicated personnel 24/7, 365 days a year. We also operate as part of a broader downtown community network, collaborating daily with the Downtown Yonge BIA, Toronto Metropolitan University, neighbouring properties, and the Toronto Police Service. This partnership-based approach has successfully contributed to a 30% reduction in safety incidents since 2025, ensuring the Square remains a positive and welcoming space year-round.

For planned programming, safety is our top operational priority. Led by our Manager of Community Safety, our team works directly with event organizers to build comprehensive, tailored safety plans for every activation. During high-volume events, we coordinate closely with City of Toronto municipal services, licensed event security personnel, and our downtown partners to seamlessly manage crowd flow and site activity. This rigorous, prevention-focused planning ensures that from intimate community gatherings to massive cultural festivals, events at the Square run smoothly and securely.

Cleanliness and accessibility are foundational to our venue standards. As an open and heavily utilized civic space, our team is dedicated to keeping the site welcoming and prepared at all times. Our operations crew conducts daily site maintenance, ongoing active sanitation, and dedicated waste management before, during, and after every event. Alongside these continuous cleaning efforts, our site design and operational protocols ensure barrier-free, AODA-compliant access so that every patron can navigate and enjoy the Square comfortably year-round.

See Becoming Sankofa Square in the About Us section for questions about the Square’s new name, the meaning of “Sankofa,” the rebranding process, the logo, and more.