In 1983, the northern half of the Leslie Street Spit was renamed Tommy Thompson Park in his honour.
The second son of Casa Loma head gardener Robert Thompson, he was born on the grounds of one of Toronto's most famous landmarks.
He became the horticulturist for the Toronto General Burying Grounds in 1936 and later worked as the Director of Research and Development for Cedarvale Tree Experts until he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943 as a navigator bombardier.
He returned to Toronto to become the Adviser on Parks and Recreation Facilities in the Community Services Branch of the Ontario Department of Education in 1951.
Tommy Thompson joined the newly formed Metro government in 1955 where he was appointed the first Commissioner of Parks until his retirement in 1978.