Posts Tagged ‘people’

Finch West

Posted: July 21, 2023 in construction, public art, transportation
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I have blogged a few times about the new Eglinton LRT/subway line that may or may not ever get finished in our life time.  As well, I have shared some pictures of the construction that is the beginning of the work on the Ontario line through downtown.  But apparently, that’s not all that Metrolinx is up to – I have heard rumours of another LRT line under construction in Toronto, the Finch West line.  So I went to investigate.

below: Waiting on the platform at Finch West subway station.

looking down from above, people sitting on benches on platform at Finch West subway station

Like so many transit projects in the city, the history of the Finch LRT has not followed a straight path.  In 2009 the provincial government announced a new subway/LRT line along Finch from Don Mills to Humber College.  But that promise was shortlived – the eastern end was removed a year later.  Next, mayor Rob Ford cancelled the whole project after taking office at the end of 2010.  City Council reinstated it (the western portion)  in 2012 and construction was to begin in 2015 for a 2020 completion date.  Work began a little later than planned but at least it actually started.  The new LRT line goes from Finch West station at Keele to Humber College, 10.3 kilometres in total.  It’s behind schedule but I don’t think that that surprises anyone.

man with a backpack riding escalator at subway station, going up, reflections in metal sides of the escalator

My walking plan was to take a Finch bus westward along the new route and then walk back….  Traffic, of course, was horrible and by the time we got to hwy 400 I was ready to get off the bus.  It didn’t help that they were repaving parts of Finch Avenue.

traffic and TTC bus on finch as approaching ramp to highway 400 north.

below:  Like many plans, changes had to be made along the way since the sidewalk kept coming to an abrupt end….

Finch avenue, construction new LRT line, sidewalk comes to an end, orange barricades

below: .. and intersections weren’t always easy to navigate.

a man on a motorbike rides past orange barricades at construction site, policeman patrolling the traffic at the intersection, Keele and Finch, LRT construction, stores on other corner of intersection in the background

below: At the eastern end of the new LRT, on the east side of the intersection of Keele and Finch is a new public art installation.  This steel structure is 40 feet high and represents Elia Public School which once stood at this intersection.  It was designed by Brandon Vickerd.  In the photo below, the building behind seems to be another Metrolinx building – that T symbol is on the new LRT stations as well.

new steel public art installation at keele and finch, by Brandon Vickerd, outline of building shape to remember the school that was once there

below: Also at Keele and Finch – there are already two buildings to access the subway.  It seems to suggest that TTC and Metrolinx have structures on three of the four corners of that intersection.  Finch West station is on the section of Line 1 (Yonge-University) that opened late in 2017.  Pictures from those days can be found at “to the end of the line”

Keele street, looking north from Finch, Finch West subway station sign and striped buildings

below: Most of the LRT runs above ground.  In order to provide easy access with the existing subway line, the LRT goes underground just west of Keele.

just west of Keele Street, on Finch, where tracks for new LRT go underground as they approach Finch west subway station, new construction,

below: New LRT trains parked at the new Finch West Maintenance and Storage Facility just west of Jane and Finch.

new LRT trains, black and grey, parked in TTC lot,

below: No one will be able to say that they can’t find the stations along Finch.  This is Driftwood station.

black structures as new lrt station on finch avenue, with apartment buildings behind

a woman in white looks to the other side of the street as she waits for traffic light to turn green, a couple wait on the other side

danger signs, active tracks, on new lrt rail tracks, at Jane and Finch

large sign for Norfinch Shopping Centre, two women on the sidewalk walking past it, KFC,

traffic directional signs, no right turn for large trucks, no left turn,

yellow and orange traffic barricades at construction site, finch avenue west

below: Walking past Norfinch Oakdale station.

to people walking along sidewalk, with orange barricades on both sides, new LRT station to the left, high rise apartments in the background, Finch Avenue west

construction of tracks and station, new lrt on finch

below: Track work at Tobermory station.

two workmen working on new tracks along finch ave lrt route

below: Looking west from Romfield

finch avenue west lrt construction

finch avenue west lrt construction

hidden behind long grass and weeds, an old sign that says congratulations class of 2020

reflections in red hexagonal tiles at finch wst station, along with the green light coming through the green glass on the windows of the station

from the Distillery to Nathan Phillips

Posted: July 9, 2023 in alleys, construction, locations, old buildings, public art
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My previous post was about wandering around the Distillery District which by the way is 20 years old now.  Back in 2003 it was surrounded by a part of the city that seemed to have been forgotten.    In 2015 the PanAm games were held in Toronto.  Athletes Village, i.e. housing for the athletes competing in the games was built new in what was now being called the West Don Lands.  After the games, this housing was converted to “746 market-priced condos, 41 market-priced town homes, 250 affordable-rent apartments, 257 student dormitory units for George Brown College, office and retail units, and a YMCA recreation centre.” (Wikipedia)   Development in the area continues on all sides of the Distillery.

below: Southside view of the new development on Mill Street (east of Cherry).

new condo development on Mill street, corktown,

below: Northeast corner of Mill and Cherry. Part of this complex is a new Anishnawbe health centre.

northeast corner of Cherry and Mill, new development, Anishnawabhe medical center, other buildings,

below: Eastbound on Eastern Avenue at Trinity Street

eastern ave eastbound approaching trinity street, construction signs, building being built, cranes, traffic,

below: Fire hydrant in a field of chicory, vacant lot surrounded by a fence.

yellow fire hydrant in the weeds and wild flowers at vacant lot downtown, highrises in the background

below: Down and out.   Grounded.  Election signs left over from the recent by-election for mayor.

signs on the ground, election signs for mayor by election

below: A large section of land at Parliament and Front that will become the site of Corktown station on the new Ontario Line is surrounded by hoardings.  From here the line goes northwest to a new Moss Park station at Queen & Sherbourne –  or it goes southeast to the existing railway tracks by the Lakeshore where it surfaces before a new station, East Harbour, at the foot of Broadview ( south of Eastern).

pink signs on hoardings around construction site for Ontario Line

men on a red lift, construction site

below: Nicholson Lane

looking down Nicholson Lane,

below: There is a new mural on the St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre painted by Darwin Peters from Pikangikum First Nation..

exterior of St. Lawrence Community Centre, painted with new mural, first nations theme

below: On the Esplanade

man on sidewalk, walking past park,

below: Photography exhibit along the Esplanade, “Mashkiki” by Morningstar Quill about life in Pikangikum First Nation.   This photo shows a group of young women making ribbon skirts.

black and white painting of a group of young women sewing, sewing machine, table, in a park, part of Mashkiki project

below:  The exhibit was produced with the support of Jamii, a non-profit arts organization.

colour photo of people in two canoes, paddling on a lake, on display in a park,

below: For those hot summer days when we’re all looking for a bit of relief!

sidewalk metal box that has been painted to look like a box that dispenses or sells ice

below: Post more Bills

graffiti on a TTC bus stop pole, that says post more bills, with a rough drawing of a person

a young woman walks her dog

below: Working on the new north market building, St. Lawrence Market.

workmen on the roof of the new North tower of St. Lawrence market

below: Looking westward from Front and George streets.

view of Toronto skyline from Front and Jarvis

people at intersection of Front and Jarvis, waiting for light,

below: Lower Sherbourne

northeast corner of lower sherbourne and front streets, construction site

below: McVeighs Irish pub in an old building that is now surrounded by new developments, Richmond and Church.

mcveighs irish pub in an old building at Richmond and church, now surrounded by new development

two workmen sit beside mcveighs pub, on the small patio,

below: The steeple of St James Cathedral peaks through the gap.

The green weathered copper roof of St. James Cathedral steeple can be seen in the gap between two newer low rise buildings, one of which has a platform of window cleaners on it

below: This is “Afrophilia”, an installation at the Toronto Sculpture Garden by Frantz Brent-Harris, a Jamaican artist now based in Toronto.

In the sculpture garden on King St., a line of red heads on poles, title of installation is Afrophilia.

below: A closer look at two of the heads.

two of the red heads in Afrophilia, a sculpture installation in outdoor space

below: Crossing King Street.

on King Street, decorated curbs at streetcar stops, pedestrians crossing King St., a TTC streetcar

below: Queen Street East

street scene, Queen St. East downtown Toronto, construction, Canadian flags ,pedestrians, tall buildings,

below: The present state of the northeast corner of Queen and Church (60 Queen St. East).  Before becoming a placeholder for yet another condo development, it was a Shawarma’s King restaurant. That old yellow building may be living out its final days – since 2018 a very tall (54 to 57 storeys) building has been proposed for this site.   The original proposal had the usual blah glass and steel at street level as shown on the condo website (queenchurch.com) but in November 2020 the existing building (and a couple of nearby buildings on Church St) was added to Toronto’s Heritage Register.

large yellow building with a turret at the corner of Queen and Sherbourne streets, now with large glass and steel condo buildings behind it.

condo development at Queen and church streets in Toronto

 

below: Queen Street is now closed at Church Street for work on the new Ontario Line subway.  Rumour says that it will be closed 4 (5?) years.  Yes, years.  The subway will run under Queen Street and connect to the Yonge line at Queen and the University line at Osgoode.

two workmen at blocked Queen Street at church, Ontario Line metrolinx construction

below: Peering over the fence?

sculpture of men in circle with backs together, at Church and Queen, now beside fence and hoardings for Queen street closure

below: Looking west along Queen Street towards Yonge (behind the hoardings).

Queen Street closure, looking towards Yonge street

below: Trying to look west along Queen at Yonge.

Looking west on Queen from Yonge, construction site, Queen street closure, glass tunnel over the street, road closed signs,

below: The glass roof of the Eaton Centre is also being renovated and updated.  Scaffolding now dominates the upper level of the mall.

scaffolding and large adverts inside the eaton centre

below: More Queen Street closed…  the closure runs as far west as Bay Street and Old City Hall.

old city hall, Queen Street, with construction fence in front, for road work, and subway work

below: Feeding the pigeons at Nathan Phillips square.

woman sitting on grass and feeding pigeons while she smokes a cigarette

below: Group shot!  A school group visiting City Hall.

large school group getting photo taken by Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips, 3D sign, group shot,

below: Constructing a rainbow heart

man wth green hair delivering flowers to be made into a heart shaped decoration, by water at Nathan Phillips square

below: …. which became an attraction before it was finished

a man taking a picture of his wife standing beside a partially finished heart made of rainbow coloured flowers, nathan phillips square,

below: Empty planters.  Ugliness on Queen Street, right in front of Nathan Phillips Square and City Hall.  Neglectful.  Toronto can build it but Toronto can’t maintain it.

large, low, concrete planters along Queen street, with dirt in them but no flowers or plants,

below: Mayor Gao for mayor!  I don’t think that this was a serious candidate?!  But then again, there were 101 people on the ballot in that by-election so maybe he was…..

hand written sign posted in front of city hall

around the Distillery, June 2023 version

Posted: July 6, 2023 in locations, old buildings, people, public art
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below: The sparrows around Balzacs Coffee shop are as brazen as ever.  If you decide to lure them away by throwing crumbs elsewhere, the pigeons will join in the fun.

small sparrow at edge of round table, outside, balzacs coffee

people sitting outside at balzacs coffee at distillery district, yellow umbrellas,

below: East entrance to the Distillery, on Cherry Street.  I suspect that everyone who visits the Distillery takes this photo.

east entrance to Distillery District at Cherry street, with large Distillery District sign overhead

below: Part of a display of some of the products produce by the Gooderham and Worts distillery over the years.  The distillery complex built by Gooderham and Worts started producing spirits in 1862.  At one time it was the largest employer in Toronto.  It also once produce half the spirits made in Canada.

part of a display of liquor bottles, some of the gooderham and worts distillery products over the years, Ballentines, and Hiram Walker products, Government House rum,

below: There are now many old photos of the Gooderham and Worts distillery from years past scattered around the Distillery District.   This one is ” The Office Entrance”.  The door is still there, as are many other features seen in the photo.

little green metal door in brick wall at Distillery, with a copy of an old black and white photo of a distillery building

woman in pink head scarf and dark sunglasses, sitting outside brick building at distillery district, smoking a cigaretts

 

pride flag in a window box in the distillery

below: Approaching Parliament, with the large heart painted in rainbow colours for Pride month (June).

 

rainbow heart in distillery

below: Home is Toronto

black and white sign on brick wall that says home is toronto

below: Old millstone from the windmill that pre-dates the dsitillery.

large stone, round with hole in middle, plaque attached, old millstone from the distillery, made in 1832

“This millstone brought from England on the schooner ‘Kingston’ to the town of York 1832 was used for grinding grain in the historic windmill of Gooderham & Worts. The windmill stood 52 feet southwest by south of this point. It was the eastern limit of the famous ‘Old Windmill Line” on which the original plan of the city of Toronto was based.”

below: Note on the bakery door – Please make sure that the pigeon doesn’t come in with you! Patty the pigeon wasn’t there the time that I went in.

sign in a window of a door that says don't let the pigeon in when you open the door

below: The line of painted head and torsos is back.  The shapes are all the same but each has bee painted by a different artist.  They are part of the  ‘6ix Art Outdoor’ exhibit.

a woman sits on a stool in the distillery district, with a small white dog,

below: Two of the sculptures still under wraps. This is at 6least the second time that they have been on display.  They were lined up in same place last August.  If you want more information about them, I blogged about the 6ix Art Outdoor last year.  (follow link).

two painted human torso and head forms

banner of pennant shaped flags in rainbow colours, over two sculptures with human forms, torso and head

barrel of flowers on a rock wall in front of a line of sculptures

large spider sculpture in the distillery

a woman in a white dress and cowboy hat poses beside an old rusty truck

distillery district roofine

looking through a blue metal cutout of a mexican day of the dead couple, to a restaurant on the other side

locks attached to a metal structure on a brick wall, love sign in distillery

reflections in a small gallery window

a couple walking in the distillery, he has bright red dyed hair

below: The inflatable couches are there because through July there are night time showings of various movies, Italian movies for the most part I think.

a family eating ice cream while seated in the distillery district

below: Painting by Terran McNeely for Pride 2023.

painting by Terren McNeely, pride 2023, man with inverted rainbow pyramid in his hand

below: Development notice sign on Mill Street.

broken bike at bike stand on Mill Street, by blue and white development notice sign beside brick building

below: One of the buildings on Distillery Lane is being refurbished.  Yellow crane is for new development on Parliament.

view at south end of Distillery, just north of Gardiner, looking west towards CN Tower, many cranes, large billboard

below: There is now a hole on Parliament!

construction site on parliament, large hole in the ground with distillery district in the background, cranes

below: … a very big hole!

construction site on parliament, large hole in the ground

below: And I’ll end this post with a sigh…. some people

trash, used coffee cups and an empty bowl and plastic spoon, left on a window sill, flower box in front of it

Canada Day on the waterfront

Posted: July 1, 2023 in locations, people, waterfront
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front of restaurant, patio, canadian flag, happy canada day sign, rainbow umbrella

a couple stand together at the edge of the waterfront, by Lake Ontario

looking west along waterfront towards boats docked and silos at the foot of Bathurst street

Empire Sandy tall ship with three masts is moored or docked in Toronto harbour

William Lyon Mackenzie fire rescue tug, red, boat, in Toronto harbour

people on the back of a large boat, looking at man working on smaller boat moored beside it

on the waterfront, people walking past small lake cruise boat

young girl walking a dog while looking at her phone, on the waterfront, walking past a boat

a woman in bright orange shorts jogs along the waterfront in front of a green park and wood bench

the words life is beautiful written in yellow on the concrete walkway on waterfront

two people putting a red kayak in the water while a third person is in a blue kayak already on the water

kayak on Lake Ontario

looking through a rack of upside down kayaks towards the rest of the waterfront

a woman site by herself on a bench

a mother and daughter sitting on a bench eating ice cream

a man in a pink shirt takes a selfie in front of the Empire sandy boat on the waterfront

rigging, ropes and chains from a boat in the foreground, kayaks on the water in the distance

people walking past

cyclists on the Martin goodman trail

a bored looking woman witting on a concrete barrier, holding her bike in front of her, by the waterfront

a man in a white hat holds his bike, while standing

gift shop selling canada day souveniers

queens quay at waterfront, red beaver tails store and gift shop, condos, people,

three people talking, standing in a park

two young men sitting by waterfront, each reaches his hand towards the other

man sitting in red muskoka chair under yellow umbrella, toronto waterfront, sand

kids playing in a splash pad at sugar beach

kids playing in a splash pad at sugar beach

woman in thong bikini laying prone, sun tanning, sugar beach

standing by Lake Ontario, a father holds a young child while another stands beside

woman on bicycle with a trailer full of furniture

two women, one on a bike by a blue truck, on in red head scarf and black and white polka dot skirt,

Pride 2023

Posted: June 26, 2023 in events, people
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Sunday’s Pride parade and related antics

Pride is big.  By big I mean soooo many people and places happening all at once.    I take pictures on that Sunday because I like mingling with the crowds, talking to people, and taking pictures of people who want their picture taken.  Although I am happy to take posed shots, I prefer the candid shots.   This set of photos is by no means comprehensive – that’s an impossible task.  Instead it represents the people and events that I saw as I walked up Church Street, checked out the marshaling area for the parade, and then tried to find shady spots to stand to watch the parade itself (another impossibility!)… until I got too tired.

woman carrying one part of a large pink, white, and turquoise trans flag, with crowd watching the parade behind barricades beside her

before parade, group of three people, one with long green hair and another with pink hair, posing,

two people walking in pride parade, large blue fuzzy hair wigs, orange boas, rainbow bows in the hair

Brazilian Bees walking in pride parade

group at beginning of pride parade

woman walking in pride parade, crowds behind her

person in white cat face mask with pink ears walking behind banner in pride parade

man at pride parade wearing shiny pink boots, knee high

getting ready for pride parade, group, one person has sign that says doctors prescribe gay pride

man in drag in pride parade, sequin dress, red jacket,

people on sidewalk with popsicles, pride parade,

group with feather costumes walking in pride parade

friends of Ruby float in pride parade passes by on Dundas Street

pflag group in pride parade, with signs saying we can be your family, and you are beautiful,

person in pride parade

black motorcycle decorated for pride parade, rainbow flag with words written on it that say dyke on bike, pride was a riot

two men and a rainbow umbrella, one in pink bikini bottoms and both in fuzzy rainbow coloured leg warmers

john tory, ex mayor of toronto, walks on church street before the pride parade

men in pink t shirts in parade singing and yelling

group in pride parade in yellow t shirts that say my first pride

before pride parade, man in drag, white frilly dress with bow in hair

three women watching the pride parade

two women, from the back, arms around each other

young woman with bright pink hair and a rainbow teddy bear in her backpack

group in pride parade, men in pink t shirts

people waving small rainbow flags as a float passes by

at beginning of pride parade, trans group, with signs saying protect trans kids and I love my trans son

pride parade, two in rainbow masks

people watching pride parade and Yonge and Dundas, standing up on railing around subway entrance

two middle aged asian women walking on sidewalk beside crowds watching pride parade, one is wearing black floppy hat

man walking on sidewalk in blue overalls with crotch removed

three people watching parade, man in hat and long robe in wavy colours, vintage clothing,

man in a grey t shirt and rainbow tulle skirt

two boys and their mother wearing t shirts that say peace respect unity

a person in blue and white striped bottoms and a matching frilly bonnet

a security guard stands beside a man using a large video camera, along side a row of porta potties

a woman in round sunglasses with a crocheted shoulder band and skirt

a woman taking a picture of two other women in front of a mural on Wellesley

four people posing under a rainbow umbrella inclusing one person in an animal mask

4 asian japanese women posing for the camera before the pride parade,

cameras and people interviewing before pride parade

small dog in a stroller with pride rainbow flag

man standing on a step stool behind crowd at pride parade

 

woman in pink bikini, watching pride parade

 

Dyke March 2023

Posted: June 25, 2023 in events, people
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 The crowd was enthusiastic.


The motorcycles were noisy.

people walking in dyke March, two women on a red motorcycle, with one on the back is cheering and carrying a rainbow flag

The rain stayed away.

dykes on bikes, two women getting ready for pride parade,

people walking in dyke March, woman dancing in front of a white vehicle

people walking in dyke March including a black woman with long braids in black and pink tied up on the top of her head,

people walking in dyke March, woman in black helmet sitting on white scooter

dyke march, pride toronto, woman in black hat, short black top and carrying pink orange and white striped flag

dyke march, pride toronto, purple, pink, and orange striped banner that reads dyke march

group pf women at dyke march in downtown toronto, carrying signs, one says no pride without bipoc and the other says protect trans rights

group pf women at dyke march in downtown toronto, carrying signs that say fuck the patriarchy and watching out for sisters

dyke march, person with purple mohawk hairdo

dyke march parade, young woman in blue, dark sunglasses and blue kerchief, smiling

two woman on Bloor street, pride weekend, in matching blue and white small striped dresses, one holding a clear umbrellas with rainbow decoration

group pf women at dyke march in downtown toronto, two are topless, with no cops at pride written on chest another is in a wheelchair

group pf women at dyke march in downtown toronto,

group of women at dyke march in downtown toronto,

group pf women at dyke march in downtown toronto, with paper fans and playing withbubbles

group pf women at dyke march in downtown toronto, one woman heavily tattooed on back and shoulders

group pf women at dyke march in downtown toronto,

group pf women at dyke march in downtown toronto, back of person with short hair, and pink hearts dyed into the hair

people behind metal barricades watching a parade, dyke march

women walking in dyke march

women walking in dyke march, carrying anti Islamic regime signs, signs with women, life, freedom

woman carrying large cutout of a person holding a rainbow flag with words women life freedom

thousands of bubbles, Bloor Street, beside parade route

dyke march, pride toronto, two women, one with pink playboy jacket on

dyke march, pride toronto, people watching parade pass by on Bloor street

dyke march, pride toronto, people walking in parade, some with bubble blowing guns, some with flags

dyke march, pride toronto, woman with flag held up high, placard that reads this is what queer joy looks like

two happy women marching in dyke parade for pride 2023 in Toronto, one has green hair and a rainbow flag tucked into the waistband of her skirt

people walking in dyke March, two women arriving to the march with signs

people walking in dyke March, walking beside a white vehicle, a woman carrying a rainbow flag above her head

3 little orange, white, and pink striped flags tucked into the waistband of a pink dress

women in dyke march along Bloor street in Toronto, woman in yellow bra holding a sign, sticking her tongue out at camera

women in dyke march along Bloor street in Toronto, red head younger woman with her arm around the shoulders of an older woman

a woman in hat, mask, and on a bike with a carrier covered in flowers and pins

women in dyke march along Bloor street in Toronto, two women at edge of parade, one with rainbow fan and the other with rainbow flag

dyke march, women walking down Yonge street including two women pretending to be Larry and Steve, candidates for mayor in the Toronto by election. they have red platform high heeled shoes around their necks, as their election platform

women in dyke march along Bloor street in Toronto, a group poses with candidate in mayor election, Olivia Chow

women in dyke march along Bloor street in Toronto, younger woman in pink dress, other woman walking behind holding hands

people walking in dyke March, one with large reflective mask on as well as black hat

family of mother, father, and daughter, standing on yonge street watching dyke march pass by

a pair of rainbow boots, with white ankle socks, in dyke march

there’s always something at Yonge & Dundas!

Posted: May 24, 2023 in locations, people
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TTC streetcars on Dundas at Yonge street

two men talking, one holding a large white banner with blue chinese writing on it. Some English words, Heaven will soon eliminate the CCP, secret china .com and epoch times,

small group watching a street performer at yonge and dundas, one black man is holding a guitar, a woman with a phone, another man putting a coin into a can

four men standing on the sidewalk watching a street performer

sign on Comics Cafe, store now closed, with C in Cafe missing, a picture of superman

a woman in a red jacket stands in the doorway of a double decker tour bus as a man walks past

woman in short shorts and fuzzy brown slippers waits for a bus

man yelling in Japanese, wearing black outfit and a head band with large red dot on it, beside sign that says

people looking at comic books tht are lined up on a cloth on the sidewalk, for sale

man standing on sidewalk with dog on a leash, looking at his phone

a garbageman in orange t shirt and large black bag walks past intersection of Yonge and Dundas, cyclist waiting for the traffic light to change

two young women smiling as they watch street performer

a woman wearing a blue dress and a hat walks past a store window with many reflections

two men talking together, one has a long white beard and white hair

an older black man is sticking his hand in a fountain at Yonge and Dundas

turning green…

Posted: May 15, 2023 in graffiti and street art, nature
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… with touches of pinks and other colours.  Spring time!

Here are a few photos of spring in the city that I collected as I walked in the past few weeks.

CN tower behind spring buds and new growth on trees

below: Spring time … when all the bugs and insects come out!

a large stuffed caterpillar on a deck of a house

below: As do the trees….  including this massive pink magnolia in full bloom.

a large pink magnolia tree in a front yard

a house with a large white blossom tree in the front yard

below: Flowers on a grave

York cemetery, tombstones in foreground, tall buildings of North York in the background

Ryerson university, Balzacs coffee, yellow umbrellas outside on spring day, people sitting outside, some people walking past

a man sits on a red bench on Pape Ave., East York

Pinehills cemetery, stones in the oreground, blossom trees in spring in the middle, and apartment building with blue features in the background

two houses on a street, with condo in background, spring, double car garages, white brick, black roofs, large tree in front

front yard, black metal trellis, blossom trees, one yellow tulip, fake stone front of house, stone walkway, brown wood fence, single white door for front door

a man wearing only shorts lies on a bench

back staircase of a brick building, upper apartment, with blue and pink planters on the stairs

metal box on sidewalk, bell box, painted with a monarch butterfly in a field of pale purple daisies

lots of dandelions in the grass by a sidewalk in front of a wall with street art on it, apartment building behind.

pussy willow in the foreground, tall buildings in the background

big old willow tree in spring in front of two houses

house with pale pink siding on upper floor, spring

Moving Toronto

Posted: May 12, 2023 in history, public art, transportation
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…for 100 years.  At the moment there is a selection of old TTC photos on display at Pape subway station in celebration of 100 years of Toronto Transit.

below: Already  lining the walls at Pape Station are images of Pape station itself and the surrounding neighbourhood. This is ‘Sources/Derivations’ by Allan Harding MacKay.   You can see the reflections of one of the old TTC photos in this section of MacKay’s artwork.

reflections of pape station sign, from the artwork on the walls of that station

The TTC posters are at platform level between the westbound and eastbound trains so you can look at them while waiting for a train.

below: First Pride bus, 2008

photo on display at pape subway station, from 2008, first Pride bus at Pride parade in Toronto, a woman in colourful clothes is walking in front of the bus

below: People waiting for the North Yonge bus at Eglinton station, 1950s

old photos of the TTC on display at Pape subway station, black and white photo old North Yonge bus at Eglinton station 1950s with people waiting to get on the bus. A stopped TTC subway car is behind the poster, a man in red is standing by the window

below: Waiting for the subway. “Line 1 customers ride the higher capacity Toronto Rocket (TR) subway train on its 2011 launch. By 2017, Line 1 had grown by 8.6 km.”

A subway train is stopped behind a poster at the station. on the poster is the back of a woman in a black parka with fur lined hood as she in turn is standing by a ttc subway train

below: Two posters, two eras. On the left: “A chartered TTC bus circles outside Rosedale station in 1961 as it awaits passengers.  Only one other station, Davisville, from the original 12 was a surface station.”  On the right: “Rushing to catch a Peter Witt streetcar along its Yonge Street route on a summer day in 1930.

people waiting on the platform of pape station, with posters of history of ttc on display

below: “A TTC car picks up scholars with disabilities outside their school in the 1920s.”  A couple with their COVID masks on sit in front of more images from ‘Sources/Derivations’ by artist Allan Harding MacKay.

an older Asian couple in covid masks sit on a bench at pape station platform, waiting for a train, posters of black and white old ttc photos on display between the tracks

below: “On a warm day in 1994, customers eagerly wait to board an Articulated Light Rail Vehicle streetcar along Queen Street at University Avenue.

platform level of pape subway station, woman on phone, artwork on walls by MacKay, poster of old TTC streetcar

reflections of building on Danforth ear Pape, tower with green domed roof, from the artwork on the walls of that station

Resilience at Cedarbrae

Posted: May 4, 2023 in events, public art
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“Resilience” is a photography exhibit at Cedarbrae Library.

part of exterior wall of Cedarbrae library, part window and part photography exhibit, large photos in black and white of people

It is the creation of Scarborough Made.  This is a group founded by Alex Narvaez x Sid Naidu in 2019.  It uses photography and cinematography to document positive stories about the people of Scarborough with emphasis on identity and culture.

black and white photography, a couple standing outside a building, she in white sleeveless top and white pants, he in darker clothes

four large black and white portraits on exterior wall of glass windows Cedarbrae library, Resilience for ArtworxTO

words describing a photography exhibit, outdoors, at Cedarbrae library, Resilience by the group Scarborough Made,

“Resilience:
The ability to recover from challenges or adjust easily to change.

Resilience exists all around us.

We see it in the movers and shakers, the cultural change makers and creative instigators.

We see it in our neighbourhoods, from the small businesses to our healthcare and essential workers.

Resilience is what lives in our narratives and exists within our identity.

Our resilience as a community is stronger when we stick together.  With it, we can overcome the challenges and build towards a better future.

The portraits you see as part of this public art installation represent the many faces that embody resilience. Pulling from both past and present works of Scarborough Made artists, we’ve created this exhibit for you to see and reflect on the humanity that exists within our community.

Resilience is us
Resilience is you
Resilience is Scarborough. ”

cedarbrae library in scarborough, photography display

black and white portraits on display in windows of library

       Artists

  • Alicia Reid
  • Ferdinand Orlain
  • Millicent Amurao
  • Nithursan Elamuhilan
  • Alex Narvaez x Sid Naidu
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