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Long-standing concerns over Ridgeway Plaza resurfaced at the Sept. 25 Mississauga mayoral debate. The Mississauga Board of Trade and CBC co-hosted the debate at the Sheridan College Hazel McCallion Campus, and four of the 14 mayoral candidates participated.
“We have been complaining for a long time, since the very beginning,” said Muhammad Amin, a resident who lives close to the area, in an interview. “This election season, the only candidate who has my vote is the one with an actual solution for the noise.”
Ridgeway Plaza is a strip mall located at the intersection of Eglinton Avenue and Ridgeway Drive in Ward 8, but adjacent to Ward 10. It is known for being the home to over 100 Halal restaurants and various Middle Eastern and South Asian shops. The space is often used to celebrate Islamic festivals, including Eid and Ramadan.
The four candidates who attended the debate were Carolyn Parrish, Bonnie Crombie, Dipika Damerla and Alvin Tedjo. Each one presented their solutions to make the plaza more pedestrian-friendly and to resolve the parking issues.
“For me, the main issue is … the noise and the garbage,” said Amin. “Every weekend we hear loud noises coming from the plaza until around 4 a.m., and we want a solution for that.”
Ridgeway Plaza has received a total of 153 noise and traffic-related complaints since 2022, according to an email from Irene McCutcheon, the senior communications advisor for the City of Mississauga.
“I want the next mayor and councillor of my ward to be able to fix the issues we have been facing for years now,” said Lisa Khan, a Ward 10 resident. “As much as I like the plaza, there needs to be something permanent done to end the nuisance.”
“I have been coming to this plaza for years now,” said Aisha Naveed, a frequent Ridgeway visitor. “This place is almost like a second home to me, and I need to know what will happen to it before I cast my vote. To me, as a Muslim living in Mississauga, this place means a lot, and I hope all the candidates are aware of the sentimental values attached to it.”
Recently, a few residents have also taken to platforms like Reddit to complain about the poor air quality near Ridgeway Plaza.
“The smoke coming from one of the restaurants in the plaza has ruined the surrounding atmosphere. It sometimes makes it hard to breathe,” said Khan. “I hope the new mayor and councillor can also fix that issue.
Ridgeway Plaza has made headlines several times since 2022. Earlier in April, the City of Mississauga reached an agreement with Ridgeway Plaza Condominium Corporations to install security cameras, speed bumps and permanent access gates.
“We are trying to make the plaza a safe space for families, friends and for people to gather while enjoying some wonderful food,” said Ward 8 Coun. Matt Mahoney, in an interview.
Reporter, OTR, F2026.
