Our thanks to Valerie Mah for sending us this press release:
StreetARToronto, a City of Toronto initiative, in partnership with Toronto Police Service, the Toronto Parking Authority, and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce (East Toronto), will host a celebration of Around the World in East Chinatown, a neighbourhood beautification project in Toronto’s East Chinatown district (Broadview Avenue and Gerrard Street East) on Wednesday, August 31 at 4:30 p.m. A walking tour of the murals will begin at 318 Broadview Ave., continue north to Gerrard, and east to the Green P parking lot at 653 Gerrard St. E., followed by remarks and a ribbon cutting.
Twenty-two of Toronto’s outstanding street artists collaborated throughout the month of August to create large-scale murals of world monuments on the sides of buildings in the area. These works of art add colour and vibrancy to the neighbourhood, help reduce graffiti vandalism, and showcase Toronto’s creative street art talent.
“I am thrilled that East Chinatown is home to these beautiful and inspiring murals,” said Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 30, Toronto-Danforth). “Their creation demonstrates how art and artists bring communities together, and was made possible thanks to the support of the local neighbourhood, the tireless dedication of the community leaders involved in the project and the innovative StreetARToronto program.”
“Community Response Unit officers in 55 Division were instrumental in recognizing significant ongoing graffiti vandalism issues in the area and working together with property owners and community members to find a unique solution to the problem,” said Greg Cole, Unit Commander, 55 Division.
“This project has dramatically changed our streetscape, brought everyone together and provided a real sense of pride in our community,” said Valerie Mah, Vice-President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce (East Toronto).
StART is a program of the Transportation Services Division, Public Realm Section. It is an innovative, public-private partnership designed to develop, support, promote and increase awareness of street art and its ability to beautify the city’s visual landscape.
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. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.
Tammy Robbinson, Strategic Communications, 416-338-3761. trobbin@toronto.ca