Artists’ Statement

Our aim was to create an image representative of the diverse community we have here in Toronto. As well as depicting the idea of cultural diversity, we also wanted to communicate a message of growth, support and hope for a safer and more improved Toronto. We hope that our mural relays our ideal of a safe, harmonious and hopeful city in which everyone can have the opportunity to pursue their goals and aspirations.

The Ducklings represent different communities within Toronto. They’re all the same animal, yet they are all painted in different animal prints. Each of the animal prints stand for different parts of the world, as well as different habitats and environments. We, too, come from different environments and different backgrounds, but we are all a part of the mosaic of this city. Their youthfulness also represents the ever-changing and ever-growing nature of Toronto and the hope that as the city continues to flourish and change, we can continue to live in a harmonious place.

The Loon represents Canada as a whole. It’s a renowned symbol of this country and representative of cohesiveness. .

The People are representative of diversity, not just cultural and ethnic diversity, but also of age and gender diversity. They stand for the ideal that everyone in this city can appreciate the fact that we all share one city and hopefully show respect, understanding and compassion toward one another.

The Hands are derived from the saying “the future is in our hands”. As a group of young artists, we take this saying to heart because we realize that the future of our city and our home will be what we make it. As a result, we have the hands cupping the image as a whole and carrying some of the figures in a protective way.

The Natural Habitat

The umbrella shape of the tree is representative of refuge. It symbolizes a safe haven for our people and animals, and reflects our goals for a safe and secure community. The natural environment we’ve depicted also represents our hope that we will be able to sustain and even improve upon our natural world for future generations.

The Scrolls of paper that are seemingly peeling away from the wall are representative of a sense of discovery. Our aim was to make it seem as though the mural has been hidden beneath the wall, and has been uncovered through our process.