27 Apr 2023

Legendary Goalies

Life size bronze statues of wo hockey goalies in full gear outside Scotiabank Arena

Location: Maple Leaf Square
Date photo taken: 30 January 2021

As part of their centennial celebrations, the Maple Leafs decided to bring some of the most loved and respected players from the franchise's history out to meet the fans. Over the course of four years, fourteen life-sized bronze statues of Leafs greats were added to an installation on the west side of the arena. Johnny Bower, on the left, was one of the first to be added to Legends Row, in September 2014. He won four Stanley Cups during his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing for them from 1958 to 1970. Turk Broda, on the right, spent his entire career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing from 1935 to 1951.

21 Apr 2023

Berry buddies

 Mural painted on side of a garage. Features a mouse standing on a snake's head to pick berries, with flowers and leaves. On a black background.


Location: Laneway north of Dundas, just west of McCaul
Date photo taken: 4 September 2018

I wanted something spring-like for this week and have opted for this mural by Sarah Cannon (@nightarcade). With the plucky mouse figure and its unlikely partner, it just makes me happy. It's yet another mural in the laneway transformed back in August 2018 by a WomxnPaintTO event.




13 Apr 2023

Beware: red-winged blackbirds

 warning sign affixed to a fence, marshy grasses in background. features images of a bird with red capped wings.

Location: Corktown Common
Date photo taken: 12 October 2021

Living in Toronto, most of us have been conditioned to recognize robins as one of the early signs of spring. In terms of feathered harbingers of nicer weather to come, I would also put forward the red-winged blackbird. While perhaps less evenly distributed across the city than robins, they are very common in Southern Ontario and just as distinctive. If you spend any time in parklands near water, you have likely seen them. Their bright red epaulets make them highly visible, and they're pretty loud as well. If you hear one in the spring, I advise you to not to stare. As the sign above notes, "Birds may exhibit aggressive behaviour protecting their young." Showing too much interest may lead to a close encounter. As someone who has experienced this first hand, it's not an experience I care to repeat. If you hear a red-winged blackbird, especially in the spring, I suggest you try to remain as non-threatening as possible: stick to the path, keep moving and do not stare or actively search out the nest.  

6 Apr 2023

Lapin

     

A large outdoor sculpture of a pink rabbit. Made from overlapping strips of material.

Location: Stackt Market, Bathurst Street
Date photo taken: 14 September 2019

It doesn't deliver chocolate eggs, but I thought this fellow was a pretty good stand in for the Easter Bunny. It's by Quebec artist Laurence Vallières who normally creates her largely animal-inspired sculptures out of cardboard. This particular one however was created with wood and the white corrugated plastic known as coroplaste, allowing it to stand up to both the elements and to its admirers. She originally created the work for the 2019 edition of Montreal's MURAL Festival, where it sat on the street, a glowingly bright white. The pink paint job was done when it was relocated to its new home in Toronto later that summer.