Help Us Bring Violet King Park to Life!
HSCA’s Heritage Committee is thrilled to announce a new initiative in Sunnyside: naming the bus loop park Violet King Park. The park, located at the corner of 7 Avenue and 5 Street NW, is just across the street from Violet King’s former family home, where she lived with her family for decades.
This project honours Violet King, a trailblazer whose life represents inclusion, resilience, and leadership. The park will be a welcoming community space that shares her inspiring story—one that shaped Canadian history and continues to inspire today.
How You Can Support
While this project is still in its early stages, donations are being accepted to help bring this vision to life. Contributions will support planning, design, and the creation of interpretive elements that share Violet King’s story within the park. These elements may include a bench, signage, public art, and other forms of interpretation that highlight Violet King’s contribution and her family’s importance to our community.
A portion of funds will help with project administration, and any excess will go toward HSCA’s food security programs for local families.
Tax receipts will be issued for all donations.
You may also see signs around the community with a photo of Violet King and a QR code linking directly to the fundraising page. The photo art is by artist Jordan Carson.
To donate or learn more, visit: www.hsca.ca/violet-king-park.
Let’s come together to celebrate a local hero and ensure Violet King’s story continues to inspire our community!
Did You Know?
• Violet King was born in Sunnyside in 1929 and lived here until 1975.
• In 1954, she became the first black woman lawyer in Canada.
• The following year, at a national lawyers’ conference, she reminded her peers that law should be about people, not just business. She said: “We need more lawyers in other fields who can look at problems in terms of people and not just property.”
• Next time you pass by the bus loop park, imagine Violet walking those same streets on her way to changing Canadian history.
Want to learn more? Scan the QR code on neighbourhood signs or visit hsca.ca/violet-king-park.
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