Construction completed on Downtown Urban Square

The City of Oshawa is pleased to announce that construction is complete on the Downtown Urban Square. The new urban space is named ‘Veterans Square’ to pay tribute to Oshawa’s deep connection to Canada’s military history and proximity to the Colonel R.S. McLaughlin Armoury. The name, approved by City Council, also honours the service both past and present of local veterans.  

Located in downtown Oshawa at the northeast corner of Bond St. E. and Simcoe St. N., this innovative urban space is set to become a vibrant hub for community celebrations and events in the heart of our downtown.

Construction began in spring 2025 and included: demolition and removals, site preparation and site servicing, hardscape, plantings, site furniture and lighting installation.

The urban square is home to:

• new sidewalks and streetscape furnishings along with new boulevard trees on Simcoe St.;
• a large shade structure above a new performance/sitting platform; 
• perimeter concrete seat walls with integrated bench tops, circular bench seating and accessibility seating; and,
• four large planting beds with ornamental flowering shrubs, pollinator perennial planting beds, conifer and deciduous shade trees.

Planting will continue in the spring, followed by installation of the sculpture “Kaleidoscope” by Nicholas Crombach which was selected by a jury following a competitive process that included community engagement and a public feedback form.

The official opening event will take place in the spring of 2026 – details will be announced in the new year.