City of Toronto commemorates life of Jenna Morrison at ceremony today in Dufferin Grove Park

TORONTO, July 26, 2014 /CNW/ - Councillor Ana Bailão (Ward 18 Davenport) and City of Toronto staff joined Jenna Morrison's family, friends and other community members today to honour Morrison's life at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a special footpath in Dufferin Grove Park. The path is called the Reflexology Foot Path.

Morrison, a cyclist who was killed in a tragic traffic accident in 2011, was a yoga instructor and massage therapist who was highly regarded in the community. Her death raised awareness of safety concerns for cyclists and renewed calls for mandatory side guards on heavy trucks.

"The City of Toronto is proud to honour the life, spirit and work of Jenna K. Morrison with the first Reflexology Footpath in a public park in Ontario," said Mayor Rob Ford.

The path is designed to be walked barefoot or in socks. Acupressure points in the sole are stimulated by the experience, contributing to foot health. Morrison discovered the reflexology footpath concept many years ago in the context of Chinese medicine. She wanted to see one built in Toronto.

"Jenna Morrison lived her life as an active and well-loved member of our Ward 18 community," said Councillor Bailão. "Today, we celebrate Jenna's life and contributions by opening this reflexology footpath. Together, we have worked to realize Jenna's dream and also provide a permanent public amenity in Dufferin Grove Park."

"I was fully aware from the beginning of this project that I was functioning as an ambassador for Jenna's vision," said Florian Schuck, Morrison's husband. "This path is unique, not only to this park, but as unique as Jenna was to her friends and family and the people she touched."

"The infinity loop design of the path connects us to her and us to ourselves and us to each other with no beginning and no end," said Darlene Burke, Morrison's mother. "It is also emblematic of the spiritual, emotional and mental and physical worlds, showing the interconnectedness which surrounds all of humanity."

"It has been an honour to collaborate with Florian and the City on this unique project," said Howard Nauboris, Landscape Architect, Cosburn, Nauboris Ltd. "To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reflexology path to be installed in an Ontario municipal park – and I can't think of a better place for it."

The path consists of a concrete bed in which cobblestones are embedded, protruding at different heights. The path begins simply and progresses to several degrees of difficulty. The walker can step off the cobblestone path at any point and walk beside it.

The path features the embedded initials of Jenna K. Morrison as well as a light standard, a mosaic wall, a handrail for assistance while walking, boulder accents, native sedge ground cover, upper evergreen ground cover and an asphalt walkway leading to the path. The path can be walked in any direction and is shaped like a number eight – the sign of infinity.

Funding for the path was provided by community fundraising and the City of Toronto.

The path is located centrally in Dufferin Grove Park, 875 Dufferin St.

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: Doug Bennet, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, 416-338-6608, 416-873-2113 (cell); Parks, Forestry and Recreation media line, 416-560-8726, mailto:[email protected]