Vaughan, Canada Honors Honey and Barry Sherman With Park, Arena Dedicated to Community and Sports
The City of Vaughan and the Jewish community officially paid tribute to Honey and Barry Sherman with the unveiling of a newly renamed park and the opening of a state-of-the-art arena, both honoring the couple’s enduring legacy of philanthropy and community leadership.
On August 21, city officials, members of the Sherman family, and representatives of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation of Greater Toronto gathered to rename Wood Valley Park as Honey and Barry Memorial Park. The Sherman family’s $5 million donation funded major upgrades to the 9.3-acre site on Marc Santi Boulevard, including modernized baseball and soccer fields, a larger parking lot, and improved stormwater infrastructure.
“Honey and Barry Sherman were two of these people who went above and beyond to make the world a better place,” said Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca. “That’s why I am pleased the City of Vaughan is renaming Wood Valley Park to Honey and Barry Memorial Park in their memory.”
The dedication is complemented by the launch of the Honey and Barry Memorial Arena, a cutting-edge twin-rink facility connected to the Schwartz/Reisman Centre. Entirely funded by Jonathan Sherman in memory of his parents, the arena is the first Jewish Community Center in North America to feature an ice rink. It includes two NHL-sized pads, a training rink, heated lounges, and food services. Importantly, the arena’s financial model is designed to reinvest proceeds into community needs, while subsidies will ensure broad access for families.
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“This arena is a lasting testament to my parents’ ideals of hard work and helping others,” Jonathan Sherman said. “Just as my parents touched the lives of so many throughout our community, this arena will benefit the Jewish community and all Vaughan residents for generations to come.”
Ken Tanenbaum, chair of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, said the facility will act as “a powerful bridge-builder between communities, inviting kids and families of all faiths and cultures to connect through sports.”
The arena is already drawing high-profile names in Canadian hockey. Former NHL star Gary Roberts’ elite training company will anchor the site with year-round hockey, fitness, and rehabilitation programs. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman will host his annual summer hockey camp there beginning in 2025. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share that passion with the next generation of players through my hockey camp,” Hyman said.
Looking ahead, the arena will be a central venue for the 2026 JCC Maccabi Games, when thousands of Jewish teens from across North America gather in Toronto for this annual youth sports festival. Often described as a Jewish Olympics for young athletes, the Games emphasize both competition and cultural connection. The facility will also serve as the home rink for Maccabi Canada and host programs that link youth sports with Jewish identity and pride.
Honey and Barry Sherman were widely regarded as two of Canada’s most generous philanthropists, donating hundreds of millions of dollars to hospitals, universities, medical research, and scholarships, as well as Jewish and interfaith charities. Their influence extended internationally through education and humanitarian aid projects.
Together, the Honey and Barry Memorial Park and Arena stand as lasting tributes to a couple whose philanthropy transformed health care, education, and community life—and whose names will now be tied to one of the most prominent Jewish sporting events in the world.
