Pentagon Totem: High Five

 

Location: Corner of St. Clair and Foxbar
Date photo taken: 2 November 2025

This stack of brightly coloured polyhedrons is one of two artworks displayed in the POP (privately owned public space) at the base of the Blue Diamond Condominium at St. Clair. It is the work of Angela Bulloch, who was born in Rainy River, Ontario but now divides her time between Berlin and London. The piece is of painted stainless steel and was installed by the building developer, Camrost Felcorp in 2021.

Retail Retrospective - Honest Ed's

 

Location: TD Gallery, Toronto Reference Library

Date photo taken:2 November 2025

The richness and variety of the collections held by the Toronto Public Library never cease to amaze me. Who knew, for example, that they have a pretty remarkable collection of shopping bags? Well they do and items from that collection form the heart of Retail Retrospective, the current installation at the TD Gallery. The story behind the bags is pretty cool too. A librarian in the 1960s sent out over 200 letters and collected over 100 bags from around the world, then curated an exhibition entitled "Art of the Shopping Bag" which ended up touring to libraries across the city. Some of those bags are included in this exhibit - marked with a '66 logo - but other bags from iconic Toronto retailers are included, shifting the focus away from design to an exploration of the ever-changing retail landscape in our city. 

The Gallery is free to attend and is located on the ground floor of the Reference Library at 789 Yonge Street. This exhibit runs until January 11, 2026.

Manning Depot Memorial Plaque

 

Location: Coliseum, CNE grounds

Date photo taken: 16 August 2025

If you're visiting the CNE grounds you have to wander a little off the beaten track to find this plaque. It's located in the Coliseum building, near the offices of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. It hangs there because during World War II, much of the CNE grounds were given over to the war effort and this building in particular was used by the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Manning Depot. 

This plaque reminds us of this history, and thanks to efforts to collect oral histories and reminiscences there are some snippets online that illuminate life at Manning Depot. One man remembers being assigned to help clear out the stalls to prepare them for the new arrivals - prior to the RCAF coming in, the building was used for cattle and horse shows. Another man recalls that recruits were bunked four to a stall and that many of the city boys found the accommodations more aromatic than they were used to. 

Text of the plaque:

In honour of one hundred & thirty nine thousand seven hundred & fifty two members of The Royal Canadian Air Force who passed through Number 1 Manning Depot R.C.A.F. during the war 1939-1945.

Erected by the Officers.