City of Toronto and TTC present collaborative community murals

TORONTO, April 22, 2014 /CNW/ - At a community event today, Councillors Janet Davis (Ward 31 Beaches-East York), Paula Fletcher (Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth), Mary Fragedakis (Ward 29 Toronto-Danforth) and Mary-Margaret McMahon (Ward 32 Beaches-East York) were joined by Toronto Transit Commission manager Shelley Pickford to celebrate five new murals. The murals will be displayed on construction hoarding at Woodbine and Coxwell stations over the next two years while work is underway to make the two stations fully accessible.

"This initiative transforms a construction site into a vibrant expression of our community," said Councillor Davis. "The collaboration between community groups, the City and TTC, combined with the talent of local young people, shows how public art can be inclusive and accessible. It's been a terrific project and partnership."

The murals were created through the Toronto youth mentorship program City on the Move – Young Artists in Transit – East, a project of the City of Toronto, the TTC and community partners Arts for Children and Youth and Children's Peace Theatre.

At the unveiling event, mentor artists Jim Bravo and Andrenne Finnikin were present with many of the 15 youth artists who collaborated to create the large murals from March to December last year after extensive community consultation. The murals, which reflect features of the local community, also include artistic contributions from Toronto's Poet Laureate, George Elliott Clarke. More information about the project is available at http://www.toronto.ca/cityonthemove.

More information about the work to make Coxwell and Woodbine stations accessible is available at http://projects.ttc.ca.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

SOURCE: City of Toronto

Media contacts: Shane Gerard, Strategic Communications, 416-397-5711, [email protected]; Susan Sperling, Corporate Communications, Toronto Transit Commission, 416-393-7828, [email protected]