CRAZY DAMES

Update: The artists for Create Your Path have been selected! 

Dupont-Osler Underpass - Q Rockford and Alexander Bacon (this mural was completed Fall 2017)

Red Cross Building - Lynette Postuma (Completed- Spring 2018)

Wallace Lofts Fence - Buck Teeth Girls Club Mural Collective (Completed- Spring 2018)

About the Project

“Create Your Path” is a community-engaged street art project that is taking place along the West Toronto Railpath (WTR) in the west end of the City. The project involves a series of community engagement events to understand how community members envision the WTR and learn what types of imagery they would like to see in the neighbourhood.  A Selection Committee, comprised of members of the neighbourhood and the art community, will then help to select artists to develop site-specific street art projects and potentially other art installations along the railpath. This project will roll out over the next two years, with the engagement and some of the installations completed by fall 2017.

"Create Your Path" offers an opportunity to capture and share the unique identity and histories of the WTR,the underpass and the neighbourhoods that surround it. The goal is to reflect residents’ ideals, establish a sense of belonging and pride and create inclusive and attractive spaces along this unique path.

"Create Your Path" was initiated in 2014 by Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailao. StART was approached to install street art projects along selected buildings’ western elevations facing the WTR. This request was rooted in community members’ desire for change along the trail.

The project is presented by  StreetARToronto (StART), a program of the City of Toronto Transportation Services Division in collaboration with City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division, and Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailao. The Community Engagement portion of the project is designed and facilitated by Crazy Dames and Gladki Planning Associates (GPA) and takes place along the Trail and at Henderson's Brewery.

Read about the various ways to get involved below! 

Project Sites

There are 5 sites identified for 2-D mural works, identified here:

1. The Dupont-Osler Underpass

2. 1655 Dupont Street (Planet Storage)

3. 371 Wallace Avenue (Wallace Lofts)

4. 21 Randolph Avenue (Red Cross)

5. 72 Perth Avenue

How can YOU create your path? 

There are a number of opportunities to get involved with this project, as a local resident, community member and artist. This project is broken down into  2 main phases outlined below:

Phase 1 – Envisioning your path (April 2017)

Let us know what is important to you in your neighbourhood and along the WTR! Contribute your ideas both in public and online on what makes the WTR a great place and what you envision for the area! Using the feedback collected, we will be developing an artist call for artist proposals along the railpath. 

All public events will be held at Henderson Brewing Co and are family friendly and accessible. 

Engagement opportunities include:

Community Visioning Event

Come join our team to learn about the 'Create Your Path' project and participate in a visioning session where we collectively develop themes for the new artwork that will be displayed in the neighbourhood! This event includes an optional walking tour. 

Date: April 8th, 2017

  • 2:30 - 3:00 PM - Walk the Path (brief walking tour) Optional *Meet on the West Toronto Railpath in front of the Brewery*
  • 3:00 - 5:00 PM - Community Visioning  

Location: Henderson Brewing Co

128A Sterling Rd, Toronto, ON M6P 0A1

Jane’s Walk 

Join Friends of West Toronto Railpath, The STEPS Initiative, Crazy Dames, GPA and Akin Projects for an exploration of the past, present and future of art initiatives along the railpath. We’ll tour installations, street art projects, artist run galleries,studios and collectives, and talk about what kinds of new imagery you’d like to see along the railpath in 2017. 

Date: April 22nd, 2017

  • 2:00 - 4:00 PM

Location: Henderson Brewing Co (Meeting spot)

128A Sterling Rd, Toronto, ON M6P 0A1 

Pop-Up Installation

Come by the WTR and add your vision for the area on this pop-up installation that will be displayed April 8th – April 23rd, 2017. Location TBA.

Based on all the feedback, an artist call will be distributed early May 2017.

Online Survey

The results of the online survey, which closed May 5th, 2017, will be shared in a What We Heard Report. Check back here for more details soon!

Read about the feedback from the Phase 1 community events here.


Phase 2 – Creating your path

Community feedback on the Dupont-Osler Underpass artist concepts

Three shortlisted artists will present their artist concepts. Members of the public will come together to collectively review the Dupont-Osler Underpass artist submissions and provide feedback. 

Date:   June 5th, 2017

  • 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Location: Henderson Brewing Co.

128A Sterling Rd, Toronto, ON M6P 0A1

Community feedback on artist concepts for the Red Cross and Wallace Lofts sites

The shortlisted artists for the Red Cross building and Wallace Lofts fence will be invited to present their works at this event. A community-driven vote centered around a communal meal will take place. 

Date: July 11th, 2017 

  • 6:30 – 9:00 PM

Location: TBD (Somewhere along the railpath!)

WTR ART LAUNCH! 

Three of the artworks will be completed in October 2017. A community launch will be scheduled at a later date. 


What is the West Toronto Railpath?

The West Toronto Railpath (WTR) is an existing and proposed multi-use linear park and trail in west Toronto that runs along a rail corridor formerly owned by Canadian Pacific and now used by Metrolinx. The path is increasingly popular for cyclists and pedestrians and carries with it a strong identity as it travels through a once underutilized rail line surrounded by the many vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods in the west end. 

Developing the WTR 

The trail currently runs from Cariboo Ave to Dundas St West Overpass. The City of Toronto developed the first phase in 2008 and in June 2012, new trail connection priorities to extend the WTR were adopted. Expansion designs include the vision for the ‘Dream Trail’, a path that would run parallel to the rail corridor and extend all the way from Dupont, the current location, down to Fort York.


What is Street Art?

Even though there is no simple definition of street art, it is often located in the public realm and described as a democratic form best experienced in situ and is typically seen as a tool for communicating with the public and creating dialogue about an area.

What is StreetARToronto?

StreetARToronto (StART) is a pro-active program developed by the City of Toronto's Transportation Services that treats streets as vital public space and aims to develop, support, and increase awareness of street art and its indispensable role in generating social and economic benefits, adding beauty and character to Toronto's communities, and counteracting the negative effects of graffiti vandalism.



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Interested in knowing more?

Send us an email through this form or at thecrazydames@gmail.com

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