About Us

Our Mission

Canada Ireland Foundation is dedicated to celebrating the story of the Irish in Canada.

 

Our Foundation has built and maintains public spaces for the community to gather and learn about our collective history.  We continue to engage academics to produce and present unique research on the history and the contribution of Irish in Canada.  The Foundation also presents a broad range of contemporary arts and cultural programming throughout the year and aims to foster collaboration and engagement between the people of Ireland, the Irish Diaspora in Canada and the many other diverse cultures that enrich our communities.

Ireland Park

A commemoration of Irish Famine migrants on Toronto's waterfront.

Explore Ireland Park

Grasett Park

Honouring caregivers who perished while assisting newly arriving Famine migrants.

Explore Grasett Park

The Corleck

Opening 2025. A new venue for arts, culture and heritage in Toronto.

Explore The Corleck

History of the Foundation

Canada Ireland Foundation is dedicated to celebrating the story of the Irish in Canada.  Originally known as the Ireland Park Foundation, the organization was founded by Robert G. Kearns in 1997 with the purpose of creating a public space to commemorate Irish Famine migrants who arrived in Toronto in 1847.

 

With the support of the City of Toronto and many other generous public and private contributors, Ireland Park was officially opened in July 2007, in the presence of Mary McAleese, President of Ireland.

 

President of Ireland

Message from President Michael D. Higgins

 

I am very proud to be patron of Canada Ireland Foundation in Toronto. The relationship between Canada and Ireland is a long and enduring one. For many years Canada has reached out a hand of friendship and support to those who have been compelled to leave Irish shores in search of a better life.

 

Robert G. Kearns

Chair’s Statement

It has been more than 25 years since I embarked on the mission to create Ireland Park on Toronto’s waterfront, recruiting allies to help turn this vision into a reality.

 

I am enormously grateful to the many esteemed supporters, Board members and public and private partners whose efforts and contributions enabled the Foundation to officially open Ireland Park in 2007, and who have continued their tireless and generous support as we created Grasett Park (opened 2021) and as we are now in the midst of developing The Corleck.

 

Land Acknowledgement

Canada Ireland Foundation acknowledges that the land we gather and operate on is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and that it is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.