Dominoes, created by artists Station House Opera and powered by Choice Properties as Presenting Sponsor, brings together Torontonians in a joyful act of community-building, as 8,000 giant dominoes weave and fall along an epic 2.5km journey through downtown neighbourhoods.
The Bentway is knocking down summer in a BIG way!
Dominoes, created by artists Station House Opera and powered by Choice Properties as Presenting Sponsor, brings together Torontonians in a joyful act of community-building, as 8,000 giant dominoes weave and fall along an epic 2.5km journey through downtown neighbourhoods this September.
The route will take over stretches of multiple neighbourhoods in the radius around The Bentway, from near King West to Canoe Landing to the Waterfront – and of course crossing under the Gardiner Expressway. The exact schedule and route will be announced soon.
“Dominoes is a wonderful manifestation of our purpose – creating Places where People Thrive. It offers a shared, meaningful experience for local residents, businesses and non-profits to enjoy their built environment and connect with one another. We are thrilled to be bringing Dominoes for the first time to North America and to get our colleagues involved as event volunteers. We invite the city to come out and help make this magic unfold.”
Orit Sarfaty, Vice President, Sustainability and Placemaking of Choice Properties, a key local stakeholder and presenting sponsor on Dominoes
This is the project’s first time in North America, following successful presentations across Europe, Australia, and South Africa. Dominoes is a day-long experience where audiences are invited to come down and experience the building of the route across the city. Across streets, through parks and buildings, occasionally disappearing and then resurfacing, sometimes pausing for sculptural performances, the domino line threads its way through old and new parts of the city, linking its diverse communities in a symbolic as well as physical chain of cause and effect.
“Dominoes is a unique and creative project for Toronto. It connects vital public spaces and everyone who is a part of them, imagining and engaging another vision of the city – just like The Bentway has done since its opening. I’m excited to see our communities and visitors enjoy the Dominoes experience!”
Ausma Malik, Deputy Mayor and local City Councillor
Route Map and Schedule of Events
Read more about local road closures here!
READY
1pm to 4pm – Explore the route
- Walk the 2.5km route as it takes shape
- Chat with fellow explorers and local residents
- Meet our friendly team of volunteers
SET
4pm to 4:30pm – Find your spot
- Choose your favourite viewpoint to catch the domino run in action
FALL
4:30pm – Go time!
- Cheer as the dominoes tumble through the city
“At a time when 43% of Canadians report never seeing their neighbours, this event brings together over 250 local volunteers and thousands of audience members in the collective act of city building. We are thrilled to bring this larger-than-life event to The Bentway and surrounding neighbourhoods to close our summer season, and to prove out the possibilities for new long-term connections across the Gardiner corridor.”
Ilana Altman, Co-Executive Director of The Bentway
more about the project
Dominoes, presented by The Bentway
Conceived and directed by Station House Opera
(an Artsadmin Project)
Presenting Sponsor: Choice Properties
Supported by: Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Dream Community Foundation, Waterfront BIA, Hal Jackman Foundation, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, FirstService Residential
Thanks to our community host partners: The City of Toronto, CreateTO, The Old York Tavern, The Circular Living Lab, Twin Sister’s Family, John Shoust and Family, Stackt Market, Toronto Public Library – Fort York Branch, Toronto Community Housing, Jumblies Theatre, City of Toronto – Parks, Forestry, and Recreation (Canoe Landing Park, Little Norway Park), Douglas Coupland, Choice Properties, FirstService Residential, Joe Fresh, Esso Circle K, 25 Bishop Tutu, Arcadia Housing Co-operative, Laurie Stevenson, Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre, and Pirate Life Theatre.
