Paul Ramírez Jonas’ Public Trust asks participants to examine the value of their word. Participants declare a promise that is recorded in a drawing they can keep. That promise is then published on a large-scale marquee board, placed alongside promises made by politicians, scientists, economists, companies, and weather forecasters, all drawn daily from headline news.
As our city approaches its municipal election, the work invites reflection on civic participation and the promise of the democratic process itself—the idea that we are not only inhabitants of our city, but also authors of its future. Torontonians of all ages are invited to make promises to themselves, to one another, and to the city they share.
While trust may feel fragile globally—and at times locally—the work insists on the possibilities that emerge when people gather, listen, and participate in civic life. By framing democracy and public trust as everyday practices shaped through attention, dialogue, and accountability, the work transforms civic engagement into something personal, accessible, and joyful. These small encounters—often unexpected, often delightful—build understanding and help us imagine how we can shape our communities and city at scale. This is where trust begins.