Jordan Carter’s aunt Sharon and grandma Agna, in front of the new skatepark sign. Staff photos.
It took two years, but the Eighth Street Skatepark has now been renamed the Jordan Carter Memorial Park.
About 50 friends and family members of Carter assembled at the skatepark on August 30 as a ribbon was cut to rename the park, with words said by Councillor Amber Morley and MPP Lee Fairclough.
His family members are calling for tougher justice for Carter’s killer, who was 13 at the time, and failed to show up to serve his three-year sentence in a youth facility for the cold-blooded murder.
The youth, now 16, was arrested by police and on August 29 ordered by a court to serve the remainder of his sentence.
MPP Lee Fairclough, Councillor Amber Morley, Jordan’s family members and Toronto Police officers at park renaming.
“We are relieved that we finally have a place to honour and remember Jordan,” said his aunt Sharon Carter, who with grandma Agna, were at the ceremony. “We just wish justice was done. The killer we were told committed five more crimes while he was on the run.”
More than 9,000 people from around the world signed an online petition calling for Carter’s name to be immortalized on the skatepark that he frequented.
There were blue and white balloons draped around the sign and a skateboard memorial attached to a large tree and a hand-made poster of Jordan. There was also a DJ with his friends skating around the park.
More than $15,000 was raised in a Go Fund Me page to help with his funeral services after he was shot and killed in East York.
The Jordan Carter Memorial Tree with his skateboards at the park. Staff photos.
“All of Jordan’s friends were here and he would have loved the ribbon-cutting,”said Agna. “He was a good kid.”
“Mr. Carter demonstrated a strong passion for skateboarding and was frequently seen at local skateparks, where he not only honed his own skills but also encouraged others to participate in the sport,” according to City report.
Artwork by friends celebrating Jordan’s life.
The arts student from Lakeshore Collegiate Institute was shot in an apartment parking garage in the Gamble and Pape Avenues area around 11:30 p.m. on January 19, 2022. Six community groups sent letters of support of the park being renamed after Carter.
He was known for mentoring teens on life and skating and was well-loved by fellow skaters.
A commemorative bench is also named after the skater at the park.