21 May 2026

The Great Beaver Quest

 

Beaver sculpture painted black with a white design. The beaver has its foot resting on a ball.

Location: outside Fire Station 33, Front and Princess
Date photo taken: 21 May 2026

Are you ready for it? The beavers have their balls, and are in position. Let the Great Beaver Quest begin! In honour of FIFA World Cup coming to Toronto, Old Town Toronto and STEPs Public Art have placed 51 specially painted beavers around the neighbourhood, one for each country competing plus a few extras, and are challenging locals and visitors alike to find them. The more you find, the more you can win. Download the free Scavify app and join the quest to take part, or just enjoy the thrill of finding them as you explore the streets and visit the businesses of Old Town. 

This beaver represents New Zealand and was painted by Elizabeth Wise. 



13 May 2026

Dizzy

 Life sized bronze statue of a seated cat, on a raised stone, in front of a garden

Location: Draper Park, Draper Street
Date photo taken: 28 March 2026

If you spend any amount of time walking anywhere in Toronto, you'll know that we're a city that loves our dogs. It's not so easy to tell how we feel about cats. Although I would argue that that's starting to change. More and more often I see people out with their cats on a leash or in giant backpacks equipped with multiple large viewing bubbles. I've also begun to realize that more and more cats - or more specifically, odes to cats - are quietly turning up in public spaces. This sculpture is one such example. It sits just inside tiny, peaceful Draper Park, looking out at the street. The park was created by landscape architects Claude Cormier et Associés (now CCxA) as part of their work for The Well, the giant residential and retail complex that Draper Park connects to on its eastern edge. The cat is said to have been inspired by a local resident, Dizzy, that Cormier saw several times while visiting the site.