Kyle Lowry reunites with Raptors fans (and a few special guests) at Jurassic Park

DeMar DeRozan, Fred VanVleet and more ex-Raptors were also on hand for Kyle's Block Party on Saturday.

Mayor Olivia Chow and Kyle Lowry at the Kyle Lowry Block Party at Maple Leaf Square, Saturday, September 19, 2026. 

Toronto native Krishna Ratnarajah remembers fighting tooth-and-nail as a teenager to defend Kyle Lowry’s good name. 

During the Raptors’ years of playoff heartbreak, no one would listen when he preached that the star point guard was a one-of-a-kind player.

“I just remember having to go to school (and) having people be like, ‘The Raptors are not it, man, why are you still rooting for them?’” he said.

On Saturday, Ratnarajah took a victory lap at Kyle’s Block Party, held at Jurassic Park in Maple Leaf Square to celebrate the career of his favourite player. Hundreds of fans were on hand for the day’s events and also looking forward to Jan. 10, when the Raptors plan to raise his jersey to the rafters at Scotiabank Arena.

Krishna Ratnarajah, at Saturday’s Kyle Lowry celebration, said the all-star point guard played a big part in his Raptors fandom.

Lowry played nine seasons in Toronto before an August 2021 sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat. He still holds the Raptors records for career assists, steals and three-pointers.

Ratnarajah proudly sported a Lowry No. 3 jersey, an almost forgotten relic from the six-time NBA all-star’s first season in Toronto.

“This is the greatest Raptor of all time,” the 23-year-old fan said. “(As) a kid from Toronto watching him the entire run that he had here, it’s legendary. They always say stars don’t want to play here, but we’re blessed with the people that we do have.”

 An up-close look at Krishna Ratnarajag’s Kyle Lowry jersey from his first season in Toronto.  

Former Raptors DeMar DeRozan, Fred VanVleet, Danny Green, Terrence Ross, CJ Miles and Chuck Hayes were also on hand and took turns giving speeches, about what Lowry meant to them as teammates and to the Raptors organization.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also made an appearance in the midst of a re-election campaign and presented Lowry with a key to the city.

Fans chanted “One more year!” while the 40-year-old Lowry, who signed a one-day contract with the Raptors and retired in July, signed dozens of autographs to close out the two-hour-plus celebration. Some fans won signed Lowry jerseys and tickets to the Jan. 10 game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

 Scarborough’s Tiffany Vergara in her Kyle Lowry jersey  at Jurassic Park on Saturday.

The crowd included at least one parent who named his child after the Raptors legend.

“That’s a good name,” Lowry laughed, waving to the family. “There are no words I can say to explain, honestly, that feeling … you’re just humbled by it.”

Scarborough’s Tiffany Vergara recalls the night the Raptors won the 2019 Eastern Conference final, watching on the big screen in Jurassic Park, hearing the Lowry chants and marching down Bremner Boulevard in the aftermath.

A Lowry statue — in the likeness of the team mascot wearing his familiar No. 7 — was also unveiled Saturday

When the Raptors went on to win the NBA championship on the road against the Golden State Warriors, she recalls taking an Uber ride from Scarborough to join the downtown celebration before gridlock on the Gardiner Expressway forced her and many others to walk the final stretch.

“(Lowry) brought unity towards the city ... that’s the greatest memory you can hold,” said Vergara.

A Lowry statue — in the likeness of the team mascot wearing his familiar No. 7 — was also unveiled Saturday and will be on display inside the arena during home games.   

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Libaan Osman is a Toronto-based general assignment reporter for the Star's city team. Reach him via email: losman@thestar.ca.