The Bat Signal

Location: Yonge and Eglinton
Date photo taken: 19 April 2016

Spending time at Yonge and Eglinton recently I was in awe of the number of sites either currently or soon-to-be under construction. The building boom in Toronto doesn't seem to be slowing down. I took a look at the city's planning applications site and 141 new applications have been submitted to the city in the last 180 days. That seems crazy!

With all of the construction happening, it's nice when the sites offer you up a nice little surprise. Those working on the future site of eCondo right at the corner of Yonge and Eglinton have injected a little fun into their workplace, painting their crane's hook block with the Batman symbol. I also noticed that the crane's working arm is strung with Christmas lights but I haven't been around at night to see if they are turned on. Perhaps that's purely a seasonal thing.

If you want to learn more about cranes - like how they manage to stay upright when they shift all that weight - there's a great page on them on the Science - How Stuff Works website.

Ned Hanlan

 

Location: Hanlan's Point, Toronto Islands

Date photo taken: 22 May 2014

This tribute to great Canadian oarsman Ned Hanlan greets you as you step off the ferry at Hanlan's Point, part of the Toronto Islands. The Hanlan family were some of the first permanent residents on West Point, as this area was once known. Ned grew up here and started rowing at an early age. He went on to dominate the sport in both North America and Europe, and was the first Canadian athlete to become a world champion in an individual event. After retiring from rowing, he bought land on the island and opened a hotel. He also entered politics and was a strong advocate for the waterfront and recreation. During his time as alderman he advocated for bike lanes in the city and for more swimming pools.  He lost his place at the Toronto Harbour Trust when he strongly criticized them for allowing sewage to be dumped in the lake.

This statue was erected in 1926, almost twenty years after his death. It was originally located by the water on the grounds of Exhibition Place, but was relocated to Hanlan's Point in 2003.

Project Bookmark

Location: North east side of the Bloor viaduct
Date photo taken: 11 April 2016

Project Bookmark is a unique project that takes passages from fiction and situates them in the real world. In this example, located at the eastern edge of the Prince Edward or Bloor viaduct, an early passage from Michael Ondaatje's In the Skin of the Lion describes a nun being swept off the bridge by the wind. It's a scene, and a book, deeply rooted in place. Readers of this plaque can take a few steps and experience the bridge for themselves, take in its height and be exposed to the elements. Combining the fiction and the reality in this way increases one's appreciation of both. It was an excellent choice with which to launch the program. To date, 15 bookmarks have been placed across Canada, and the 16th will be unveiled in Hamilton on June 10.

Do you have a favourite book or passage that is situated in Toronto, or elsewhere in Canada? Project Bookmark wants to hear about it - suggestions can be submitted through their website.

Traffic Signal Box - Adrian Hayles

Location: Bathurst and Wilson
Date photo taken: 17 November 2015
Image #6 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

Another traffic signal box given a colourful treatment thanks to StreetARToronto's Outside the Box program. These colourful clouds are by artist Adrian Hayles, who has done several boxes around the city.

The Great Outdoors - Leventhal Mural

Location: Side of railway overpass, Macpherson Ave. west of Avenue Rd.
Date photo taken: 25 September 2013

Spring weather always makes me want to spend more time outside. It might not be nice enough to sit on the grass and read a book, but it won't be long! This peaceful scene is part of a much larger mural by Ian Leventhal located on the side of a railway overpass along Macpherson Avenue. To see more of the mural and to read about the community's involvement with it, check out this earlier post.

Home

Location: Ranee Avenue, at the Allen Road underpass
Date photo taken: 10 September 2015

This mural can be found on one side the of underpass where Ranee Avenue travels under the Allen expressway. On the other side of the underpass is it's twin, another mural with another feel good message. Both were created by neighbourhood youth working with Art Starts, an organization that seeks to use art to engage residents in under-served areas of Toronto. The youth involved did much more than paint however. For three weeks they were immersed in the revitalization process, doing things like attending meetings and interviewing residents. The project was initiated by Toronto Community Housing as part of the Lawrence Heights Revitalization Project. Like Regent Park, this 50s era housing development is being completely razed and redeveloped. Demolition began this fall and the project is expected to take 20 years.

Blind Date with a Book

Location: St. Lawrence branch, Toronto Public Library
Date photo taken: 5 March 2016

Blind Date with a Book is yet another of the Toronto Public Library's fun programs. While the idea didn't start with them, branches all over the city have adopted the idea and made it their own. These books from the St. Lawrence branch are wrapped in newspaper (more words!) to hide their identity, but one sentence taped to the front provides a clue to what you can expect when you get the book home. With the weather so rainy right now, it's the perfect time to set yourself up!