The Bentway ‘takes to the water’ this September

Join the massive canoe procession: 500 Volunteers invited to bring an unprecedented artwork to life.

This September, The Bentway presents A Lake Story, a colourful new public art project by internationally renowned artist Melissa McGill, featuring over 100+ canoes paddling in unison across Toronto’s waterfront. Presented on Lake Ontario itself, this dynamic processional unfolds over September 27 and 28, uniting nature, art, and community in a large-scale celebration of water and place. 

This spectacular performance brings together water, colour, wind, and paddlers to find and speak the lake’s language, and tell its vital story in a choreographed formation of over 100 canoes – travelling from the new Biidaasige Park to beloved Sugar Beach and beyond.

The Bentway is currently inviting 500+ volunteers for both land-based and water-based roles to join the project. Those with experience and interest in canoeing, boating, arts/culture, community engagement, and/or ecology are encouraged to apply here!

“Since our inception, The Bentway has aimed to build greater connectivity across Toronto’s waterfront. A Lake Story will give new visual voice to this work and to the identity of the water itself – deploying the unique power of public art to unite communities and geographies. We’re excited for Torontonians to join us as The Bentway ‘takes to the water’ this September!” 

– Ilana Altman, Co-Executive Director, The Bentway

Melissa McGill is an internationally acclaimed artist known for her ambitious, site-specific projects that merge visual art, performance, and the natural world. Her practice centres on developing impactful, change-making initiatives that engage local communities through innovative and meaningful approaches to water-based storytelling. These projects foster nuanced dialogues around land, water, sustainable traditions, and our collective interconnectedness.

“Creating A Lake Story in partnership with The Bentway and collaborating with local community members to celebrate the vitality of Lake Ontario has been deeply inspiring. This vibrant, waterborne canoe procession brings us together to engage with Toronto’s watershed, celebrating our interconnectedness by writing the lake’s own colour story across the sky and reflected in its waters.” 

– Melissa McGill, artist

McGill has developed a site-specific natural colour story for a series of wind-activated, painted silks created in collaboration with Jason Logan (of the Toronto Ink Company), which will soar above the canoe procession. Together, McGill and Logan are hand-making colours using found materials like goldenrod, clay, algae, red brick, and wild grape – sourced onsite from the shoreline and within the lake itself. As A Lake Story glides along Toronto’s eastern waterfront, these natural colours will fly against the cityscape, adding vibrancy and movement. Guidance for this project has been provided by local Indigenous wisdom keepers and ecologists.

Beyond volunteering, The Bentway invites all Torontonians and art-lovers to add their “Paddle Power” by making a donation in support of the project.  As a special thank-you, donors can receive a take-home keepsake from A Lake Story: the actual canoe paddles used in the procession. 

This new Bentway “offsite” project gives voice to the interconnected relationships above and below the waters and invites audience viewers to experience a new “colour story” of Lake Ontario. The presentation forms a marquee event in the new Water / Fall Festival, convened by a group of waterfront event programmers at multiple locations this fall. 

More quotes from our project partners: 

• “Since its opening just two weeks ago, Toronto’s newest island and biggest park in a generation is fulfilling its promise to reconnect the city to the lake. A Lake Story reflects the spirit of this transformation—bringing together art, nature, and community in a vibrant celebration of our waterfront. Waterfront Toronto is proud to support this landmark event as part of our commitment to public art and placemaking. With all its beauty and wonder, this project exists in harmony with Lake Ontario, inviting discovery, adventure, and a renewed connection to the water.”  –  George Zergarac, President and CEO, Waterfront Toronto. 

• “The Water/Fall Festival is going to see the largest collection of events and experiences taking place at the same time on the waterfront, and Melissa McGill’s co-created artwork experience will be perfect way to kick it off.” – Tim Kocur, Executive Director, Waterfront BIA

Following the performance, a celebration of the community partners and creative process will be staged on the western waterfront, featuring a documentary film and a presentation of the colour field paintings.

A detailed schedule and map for A Lake Story will be made available later in September. 

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