Stories

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Waterfront Stories: TMU Collaborative Studio

February 11, 2025

Students from Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Architectural Science partnered with The Bentway to reimagine spaces beneath Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway, exploring how underutilized areas could be transformed into vibrant hubs for community life. Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Architectural Science hosts collaborative studio every winter, a unique intensive workshop for 160 undergraduate students across varying […]

School Visits @ The Bentway: Reimagining the Highway 

January 10, 2025

Learn about the many ways infrastructure can serve our city! The Bentway engages planners, artists, educators, and local communities as active participants in the creation of new public spaces below the Gardiner Expressway and healthy communities across Toronto. 

Winter Skating Frequently Asked Questions

December 3, 2024

Find answers to commonly asked winter skating questions below. What are your hours of operation? Please CLICK HERE to see our hours of operation. If the Skate Trail is closed due to weather conditions, we will post a notice on our website homepage and on Instagram. Skate Rental and Concession Stand Skating Trail Questions General

moving beyond concrete  

October 22, 2024

Return to Annual Report 2023/24 Standing four stories tall and stretching 6.5km across Toronto’s downtown core, the Gardiner is an imposing piece of infrastructure. At first glance, you might notice the concrete, steel, and the traffic above, but what if you look closer… and listen deeper?  For Summer 2023, The Bentway invited the city to […]

our team  

October 18, 2024

Return to Annual Report 2023/24 Supporters Our work wouldn’t be possible without the growing family of city-builders who support The Bentway year-round. Staff We are a group of city-builders, civic animators, dreamers, and do-ers who work to unlock new opportunities for the Gardiner. Board Our senior volunteers guide the organization’s growth, sustainability, governance, fundraising, and […]

our financials  

October 18, 2024

Return to Annual Report 2023/24 “This year, the organization navigated a challenging financial environment with resilience and determination – while building a clear path towards future expansion. I honestly couldn’t be happier to be part of such an amazing group — it’s the people here that truly make TheBentway shine!” – Tessa Chan, Controller (The […]

winter colours  

October 18, 2024

Return to Annual Report 2023/24 For winter 2023-24, we were pleased to welcome back neighbours and fun-seekers to The Bentway for ice skating, a new signature art installation, the return of Polar Bear Skate, free workshops, and more.  Winter @ The Bentway “It was my first winter at The Bentway! Managing ice skating was a […]

celebrating together  

October 18, 2024

Return to Annual Report 2023/24 There was a lot to celebrate last year, including at some marquee events for Bentway friends, our neighbours, and our supporters. Here’s a look back at some of our favourite days and nights.  Beyond Concrete Opening Party Summer Block Party “What a treat to kick off the summer season in […]

working more sustainably  

October 18, 2024

Return to Annual Report 2023/24 “I’m immensely proud of our efforts across 2023 to put the organization’s sustainability learnings into action. We’ve been building on these successes through sector-wide convenings and publications about public art and sustainability, and in the commissioning of our future exhibitions.”  – Anna Gallagher-Ross, Senior Manager of Programming (The Bentway) Our […]

transforming the gardiner  

October 18, 2024

Return to Annual Report 2023/24 Fueled by recent successes like the completion of the Under Gardiner Public Realm Plan (UGPRP), The Bentway is leading an exciting next chapter for the Expressway. Here’s a recap of progress in 2023-24. Our Board Chair on how our work is flexing Toronto’s imagination “2023 was a year of true […]

Public Art and Sustainability Initiative

October 9, 2024

In order to address the specific environmental challenges in public areas and in the presentation of public art works, in March 2024 The Bentway seeded the Public Art and Sustainability Initiative – a collaborative partnership between a national network of fellow public art curators, organizations and public space operators.

Local partner Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has supported The Bentway since Year 1   

September 30, 2024

Dave (Co-Executive Director) meets up with Deborah Wilson (VP, Communications and Public Affairs @ PortsToronto) and Nadia Dzula (Manager, Corporate and Community Programs @ Nieuport Aviation) to discuss our continued collaboration in the west waterfront neighbourhood. Though most often experienced as a linear public space moving east-west, our growing work is also prioritizing north-south connectivity […]

Welcome to The Bentway family, Manulife! 

September 30, 2024

Dave (Co-Executive Director) and Manulife’s Joanna Marcovici celebrate the incredible start of a fruitful multi-year partnership  Through their Impact Agenda, Manulife is committed to empowering sustained health and well-being that supports the journey towards a better life, as well as accelerating a sustainable future for our planet. Like us, they recognize the link between our […]

Leading a new national network for sustainable public art practice 

September 30, 2024

In order to address the specific environmental challenges in public art, and in particular the presentation of temporary and durational works, The Bentway, with support from the Canada Council for the Arts, seeded the Public Art and Sustainability Initiative.  This collaborative partnership between a national network of fellow public art curators, organizations and public space […]

Balancing the environmental impact of our creative projects 

September 30, 2024

In delivering our Summer 2023 exhibition Beyond Concrete, we challenged ourselves to think and act carefully about sustainability. This pledge encouraged us to look at our work in new ways and resulted in some amazing achievements.   Responsible Sourcing:  Circular Material Life Cycle:  CO2 Emission Avoidance:  Sustainability Audit: Supporting emerging research practice:

Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik cheers on our next phase of growth 

September 30, 2024

“Toronto needs more Bentway!” – Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik Ilana (Co-Executive Director) and Deputy Mayor Malik reflect on the past year of working together. As City Councillor for Ward 10 (Spadina – Fort York) since 2023, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik is a longtime fan and a deeply passionate champion of The Bentway’s work.  Bentway Co-Executive Director, […]

Our Board Chair on how the work is flexing Toronto’s imagination 

September 30, 2024

“2023 was a year of true momentum for us; The Bentway has hit its stride.” – Daniel Shearer, Board Chair   Jessie, our Manager of Fundraising & Partnerships, recently sat down with Daniel to talk about what makes The Bentway so special to him.  JF: Can you start by telling us why you got involved with The […]

A large vacant space under an urban highway
Bentway Islands – a new Bentway site in development

September 26, 2024

The Bentway,  in partnership with the City of Toronto, is making plans to create a second public space site below the Gardiner Expressway between Dan Leckie Way and Spadina Avenue.  about the project In April 2024, Toronto City Council endorsed the Under Gardiner Public Realm Plan  which outlines a comprehensive vision for underutilized spaces below […]

How To Dominoes 

September 19, 2024

Dominoes is a choose-your-own-adventure experience, but here are some suggestions to get you started!  See it all  Arrive early and explore the full route from 1pm to 4pm as it’s being built block-by-block. It’s not possible to “chase” along the whole route during the domino fall (due to the speed), but you can walk it […]

Dominoes – local road closures on September 22, 2024

September 13, 2024

more about Dominoes Dominoes is a public art project produced by The Bentway and conceived by Station House Opera. On September 22, 2024, over 300 volunteers will work to assemble a larger-than-life run of domino blocks through the city, charting a 2.5km path through downtown neighbourhoods. Anticipation builds as the moving sculpture is set up […]

Microclimate of Winter Public Spaces

November 29, 2023

2023 Public Space Fellow Celeste Davis Meledath underscores the potential of our communal spaces to be hubs for innovative experimentation. ‘Microclimate Of Winter Public Spaces’ examines how public spaces interact with our evolving climate and offers design directives to enhance natural integration and ensure community safety.

Who Are The Ghosts of Condoland?

October 24, 2023

Welcome to the pumpkin patch of Ghost Landing! Caterwaul Theatre invited a group of local artists to imagine more ghosts of CityPlace (and their own spooky stories) through a series of Jack-o’-lanterns. HINFOS Despite our close proximity, living stacked above others, we move amongst one another as ghosts. The building crane is our ghost of […]

Deceptively Simple, but Endlessly Complicated

October 24, 2023

For a (very) brief period in the early 2000s CityPlace was home to a 9-hole golf course and driving range. “A Gentleman’s Guide to Golf” – As dictated by a Ghost (who wished to remain anonymous) upon discovering the sport at the CityPlace Golf Club in the summer of 2000. *Editor’s Note: The CityPlace golf […]

These Ain’t Your Grandma’s Ghosts

October 24, 2023

With 30 residential towers built since 2001, CityPlace has one of the highest population densities in Toronto. 18,000 residents call the community home, and their stories will shape how we remember this neighbourhood in the future. We the Ghosts of CityPlace, hereby set down in words: THE GRIEVANCES OF THE MODERN GHOST. We, who have […]

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