In the Blog
Toronto’s Aboriginal Community to makeover Allan Gardens
NEWS RELEASE: Toronto, ON, February 17, 2012
The City of Toronto is partnering with Aboriginal agencies, including the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto, and community groups to create a joint vision for the Allan Gardens art project.
The temporary art project will beautify the 90 square meters of construction board (hoarding) surrounding the water main project on the south side of the park that will be in place until March 2015.
Crystal Melin, executive director of the Native Women’s Centre of Toronto, said: “It will be very exciting to see the entire Aboriginal community come together and create artwork based on the multitude of experiences, backgrounds, and skills found in the community. It’s very much about bringing community members, organizations, and art-based groups together to really showcase the incredible diversity and beauty that our community represents in Toronto.”
The project is located in Ward 27, represented by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, who is championing the project. “Allan Gardens is Toronto’s most undervalued heritage asset and that’s going to change with our renewed revitalization efforts,” she says. “We have an opportunity to turn its grand botanical gardens into a cultural destination worthy of city-wide and even national attention. It’s time to repurpose this 14-acre park with its 150 years of civic history to meet the needs of the 21st Century user.”
Community members will meet at The Native Women’s Resource Centre (191 Gerrard Street East) on February 23 at 2 to 5 p.m. to discuss ideas for the Aboriginal artwork that will adorn the structure.
For more information, as well as to register, please contact the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto’s executive director Crystal Melin at 416-963-9963 or ed@nwrct.ca.nwr
