Dizzy

 

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. 

St. James Park lighting

Location: Jarvis and Adelaide
Date photo taken: 13 February 2025

In 2018 the City completed phase one of a revitalization of the heavily used St. James Park on the edge of Old Town. As part of the improvements, this cluster of lighted poles was installed at the north east corner of the park. Designed by PMA Landscape Architects and billed as a "heritage interpretation lighting feature", the reference is subtle. The massing of the poles and their varied heights creates a form that mirrors the silhouette of the cathedral that sits on the south west corner of the park. 

Enterprise

 

Location: Guild Park and Gardens

Date photo taken: 9 April 2022

This large panel, dedicated to Enterprise and featuring a scientific instrument in the centre, is one of three stone crests arranged in a row on the grounds of Guild Park. Carved from white marble, they stand about 6 feet or 1.8 m tall and each weighs about 4 tonnes. They were originally created for The Bank of Toronto's head office and main branch building at King and Bay streets which opened in 1913. The three panels hung above the entrance. Roughly a decade after the merger of the Bank of Toronto and the Dominion Bank this building was demolished to make way for the Toronto-Dominion Centre. The panels, along with many other elements from the building, were salvaged and for a time were displayed near the swimming pool of the former Guild Inn, but were put in storage when that part of the hotel was closed up. They remained in storage for more than 30 years but as part of the City's revitalization of the park, they were reinstalled on the grounds in October 2020.

Hot Ash Only

 

Location: Ashbridges Bay park

Date photo taken: 5 May 2021

It might seem odd to see a "Hot Ash Only" sign on a bin in a park in Toronto but if you consider that 33 parks across the city have firepits anyone can use, it starts to make a lot of sense. Especially if you've been to one of those parks on a gorgeous summer day and seen how popular a venue they are for all sorts of gatherings, including barbecues. All those hot coals have to be disposed of safely, in a way that doesn't start trash bin fires or put small feet at risk of burns. That's where these bins come in.

While firepits are free to use for small gatherings, if you plan to have more than 25 people at your event, or just want to ensure your chosen pit is available when you want it, you need to book in advance and pay a booking fee. If you'd rather bring your own barbecue, that's allowed but perhaps surprisingly, you need to make a booking for that too. And don't think you can scavenge firewood for your cookout - only charcoal and briquettes are allowed, at least in the city provided pits.

East Point Pavilion

Location: East Point Park

Date photo taken: 4 February 2024

This structure is part of a viewing pavilion designed to enhance the bird watching experience in East Point Park. According to the City's website, the park, which is located atop the Scarborough Bluffs, is a migratory staging area for monarch butterflies and over 178 species of birds. As part of an initiative to enhance and protect bird habitat within its borders, the City has designated the eastern portion of the park as a bird sanctuary. The design of this weathered steel wall reflects that. It is laser cut with a swarm of tiny birds, below which are included the common and scientific names of many of the birds that can be spotted in the park. The pavilions and other improvements to the site were the work of PLANT Architect Inc. and their work won them a Toronto Urban Design Award. In creating the site, they took pains to disturb as little as possible, including routing the paths through the park to minimize tree destruction and timing construction around the nesting seasons of local birds. 

Bat Box

 

Location: Corktown Common

Date photo taken: 19 June 2023

Walking around the eastern side of the hill at Corktown Common this summer, I noticed several of these installations. They're called rocket boxes and they provide roosting habitat for bats. Did you know that eight species of bat call Ontario home? Or that four of those eight are considered endangered? Habitat loss is one aspect contributing to their demise and these boxes help to provide a solution. That said, not a lot is known about the roosting habits of particular bat species, but several organizations are working to change that. The Toronto Zoo and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority are two of them, working together to record and monitor bat populations and habits. The square box mounted lower on the pole contains a mesh screen which captures falling guano from the box, which can be analyzed to determine what types of bats are roosting inside. I'm not sure who is responsible for installing these particular boxes but I hope that they are well received by the locals, both bat and human alike.

To learn more about bats, check out this publication by the Toronto Zoo. In addition to general  information, plans for bat boxes, and some myth-busting, it includes some unexpectedly adorable bat portraits.

Ship in a bottle

 

Location: Marie Curtis Park

Date photo taken: 5 September 2021

There's a small building tucked away in a corner of Marie Curtis Park, near the Lake Promenade entrance. Once upon a time it probably blended into the scenery, but now its hard to miss thanks to four large, vibrant murals created by local graffiti artist Luvsumone in 2016. All four images draw inspiration from the lakeside location and I just love the twist put on this one. For me, the dark silhouette of the ship is almost ominous, but then the colours pull me back to happy.

Beware: red-winged blackbirds

 

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 that are 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.  

Wolves of Bay Street

 

Location: Guild Park and Gardens

Date photo taken: 9 April 2022

These two howling wolves are the work of Canadian sculptor Jacobine Jones. Born in England, she  received classical training in London before making Canada home in 1932. Within a year of arriving she was working on architectural commissions as well as creating art in her own studio. This panel, which became known as the Wolves of Bay Street, was one of several she created for the Bank of Montreal's new building at the corner of King and Bay Streets. When the building was demolished less than 30 years later, the panels were salvaged and now sit, with many other old architectural elements, in the Guild Park and Gardens in Scarborough. 

Note: Some of Jones' work remains at the corner of King and Bay. Across the street from the Bank of Montreal sits the The Bank of Nova Scotia building. Inside the grand banking hall hangs a large sculptural mural by Jones, the largest in Canada at the time it was installed.

TRAFx post

 

Location: Tommy Thompson Park

Date photo taken: 8 May 2021

Where I work, May is Data & Analytics month. In honour of that, I present this post. This particular one is located in Tommy Thompson Park, but it is just one of many installed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to collect usage data for their trails. The post contains a TRAFx trail counter. As the sign on the post is careful to point out, it doesn't contain a camera. What it does have is a special sensor designed to count people using the trail. The sensor works by detecting the infrared wavelength that people emit. So if you see a post like this the next time you're out enjoying one of Toronto's many trails (the city provides maps to help you find a trail near you), know that your presence has been noted.

Passages - Don River

Location: Lower Don Trail

Date photo taken: 20 September 2015

On the Lower Don Trail where it passes under Don Mills Road, something lies waiting beneath the bridge. Have no fear, it's not a troll but rather an art installation called Passages. It consists of pieces of bright red canoes which have been set into the concrete at odd angles. It both celebrates the history of the Don River as an important artery and recreational waterway, and invokes its former power. Installed in 2015, it is the work of Labspace Studios, a sustainable arts enterprise. 

Attention - Coyotes

 

Location: Bloordale Park North

Date photo taken: 25 November 2021

With Stanley Park's coyotes in the news lately, I thought I would share some local coyote information. With all of our parks and ravines, it's not surprising that Toronto is home to coyotes but did you know that the City of Toronto offers an e-learning course called Coyotes in the Urban Landscape? There's also a webpage that sets out lots of tips and information on what to do and not do when you encounter a coyote. My favourite is definitely Be big and loud: Jump up and down, wave your arms, yell “Go away coyote!” It's not just a bit of fun - yelling "Go away coyote" alerts nearby pedestrians and pet owners that there's a coyote in the vicinity. Other take-aways include: do not approach them, never feed them,  and do not turn your back or run away from them.

Tulpi chairs

Location: Centre Island
Date photo taken: 3 August 2021

On the Toronto Islands, a number of tulips bloom year round on a small grassy area adjacent to the Centre Island ferry terminal. Oversized and bright orange, they are the creation of Dutch designer Marco Manders and they won top prize in the Street Furniture Design Category at the 2014 - 2015 A'Design Award and Competition. That's right, these blooms are actually chairs. The tulip shape and self-folding design ensures that the seat is protected from pooling water and bird droppings, and they can be rotated 360 degrees. The material is also highly durable and 100% recyclable. These particular chairs were gifted to Toronto by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands when they visited in 2015 so it makes sense that they are all orange, but if you wanted a little variety in your own personal Tulpi garden, they do come in a variety of colours, and even illuminated versions.

AIDS Memorial

Location: Barbara Hall Park, Church north of Wellesley

Date photo taken: 1 July 2021

Tucked in a beautiful green space behind The 519 Community Centre on Church Street stands Toronto's AIDS memorial. The thirteen pillars contain the names of people, most from the local community, who lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses. For me, the experience of walking along the path, noting as the number of plates needed per year swelled, was visceral. The memorial was designed by Patrick Fahn, but it was the work of Michael Lynch. He and a group of other gay men developed the idea of a permanent memorial, a place where friends and family could gather. By its existence, it "counters the silence, denial, isolation and rejection that are so often connected with AIDs" and it also provides a focal point for the annual AIDs Candlelight Vigil, usually held each year in June. Friends and family can submit names for the memorial to The 519.

For the greener good

 

Location: Bruce Mackey Park

Date photo taken: 21 March 2021

If you've spent any time in Riverside lately, you've probably seen a tree or two wrapped in a green plastic ribbon. I don't know when they first started appearing, but I first encountered them shortly after St. Patrick's Day. I have to admit I was a bit irked. I assumed someone had decided to green up their neighbourhood for the day and was in no hurry to reverse the process. I am therefore thankful to whoever it was who had the foresight to attach plastic-covered information sheets to a smattering of the trees. The green ribbons are part of a campaign by local residents to raise awareness about the new Ontario Line and the effects that it will have on their neighbourhood. While much of the line will be underground, the portion running through this area will be built at level, adjacent to the existing rail corridor. This happens to be where most of the green space and recreational facilities are located, putting them at risk. Save Jimmie Simpson! is working to engage residents in the fight to have this portion of the line buried. Visit their site to learn more. They've also got some cute buttons for sale.

CNR Caboose

Location: Roundhouse Park

Date photo taken: 11 November 2020

This is Canadian National Caboose #79144 and it is one of many outdoor exhibits accessible to the public at the Toronto Railway Museum despite COVID closures. While the museum itself is closed, the adjoining Roundhouse Park is dotted with outdoor exhibits which include structures, such as the 1896 Don Station, as well as train cars like this one. 

This caboose actually started out life as a boxcar. Built in 1920, it hauled goods for years until wooden boxcars became obsolete. CN, rather than off -loading them, converted many, including this one, into cabooses. In the early days, the caboose provided a home away from home for those who worked on the train, but over time, the need for such accommodation lessened. Eventually it became more of an office on wheels. The cute little raised portion was where the conductor or brakeman could sit to keep an eye on the train.

If you want to support the Toronto Railway Museum, or just love trains, you might want to get yourself a ticket for "Royal Train Tours of Canada", the first in the museum's 2021 series of virtual lectures.

Rainbow Tunnel

Location: East Don Trail
Date photo taken: 23 January 2021

This rainbow tunnel is likely familiar to any who have driven up the Don Valley Parkway. It sits on the east side, just south of the Lawrence exit and it's been around since the very early 1970s. It was originally painted by a youth named BC Johnson as a memorial to a friend who died in a car crash on the nearby roadway. Every time the city painted it over, which happened often, he would return and repaint. Eventually the City embraced the mural and in 2013 it provided funding to Mural Routes to refresh the rainbow and to create a further mural on the inside of the tunnel. If you want to visit it in person it can be accessed from west of the Don Valley via Moccasin Trail Park, or from the east side via Milne Hollow and the East Don Trail.

Trumpeter Swan

 

Location: Humber Valley Pond in Summerlea Park

Date photo taken: 22 May 2015

Last weekend I found myself on the waterfront down by Tommy Thompson Park and I'm pretty sure there was a family of 5 trumpeter swans hanging out in the bay. They were a little too far out to say for sure, but I checked the park's website and the 2019 Bird Nesting Report confirms that there were two active nests located that year. This is pretty exciting because until relatively recently, these swans were extinct in Eastern Canada. Native to Ontario, hunting and habitat loss led to their disappearance in the wild about 200 years ago, but in the 1980s efforts were undertaken to reintroduce them. While their numbers are still dwarfed by the more common mute swan, which is an invasive species, it's nice to see that they are successfully breeding, even in the city.

Bear

 

Location: Guild Park

Date photo taken: 15 March 2020

The Guild Park & Gardens in Scarborough is littered with wonders but this roughly life-sized carving of a brown bear was a stand-out for me. Apparently it's also very popular with children who are not discouraged from climbing on it. The bear is the work of E.B. Cox, with help from Michael Clay. Cox was a Toronto based sculptor who worked primarily in stone and who is credited with having more sculptures on public display in the city than any other artist. This particular piece was commissioned in 1979 by Spencer Clark who used to own the property on which the park now sits.

Toronto Trees

Location: Allan Gardens, Gerrard close to Sherbourne
Date photo taken: 18 August 2015

There are several areas in the city where it is possible to visit some truly spectacular trees. In honour of Earth Day, here is a personal favourite. Allan Gardens, along with being home to a beautiful conservatory, also houses over 300 trees. Not bad for a modestly sized urban park.

The City of Toronto has embraced its urban forest and is attempting to grow its tree canopy. Permits are required to remove trees, even, in some cases, on private property, and in the decade between 2008 and 2018, the city invested over $600 million in maintaining and growing its urban forest. City estimates put the overall canopy at approximately 30 percent. Treepedia, a project by MIT's Senseable City Lab, uses a different metric. Rather than measuring the tree cover from above, they take a pedestrian view to measure how many trees can be perceived on city streets. They call their score the Green View Index. By this metric, Toronto scores 19.5%. The lower number likely reflects the relatively large percentage of Toronto trees that grow in parks, ravines and backyards. For comparison, New York has a score of 13.5% and Montreal scores 25.5%.