In her own words, volunteer “colour-bearer” Rebecca Henderson reflects on her experience of A Lake Story from 1 of 120 canoes on the water. She shared this poetic, first-hand account on September 29, 2025.
“A Lake Story was certainly an incredible performance to witness, but for us volunteer paddlers/colour bearers, it went beyond an installation to view. We lived within the art, connected because of the art, and discovered friendships through it. We were united by a serendipitous combination of artistic vision, community, and nature.
For us, A Lake Story was more than a procession passing us by. As we sat in our beached canoes, side by side beneath our colourful flags, waiting for our turn to launch, we chatted, laughed, sang, and cheered. Once afloat, we began with a private, calm, yet anticipatory paddle ride around the first bend. In our privacy with the insects, birds, and brushes, these flags felt like they were for us. In this moment, we were the only ones in the entire world who were gifted the experience of these flags – their reaching masts, held steady in our hands, touched the sky above, almost as if curious to know what was happening up there. Their undulating waves and swooshing ripples whispered back to us what grandfather sky was thinking. As we continued around the bend, alongside the drifting swans and cygnets who eyed us with trusting curiosity, we began to share these flags with others.
At moments, we (spectators and canoers alike) held an air of reverence. Other times though, we were united by a celebration of excitement, joy, and love as cheers whooped between those on land and on water. We celebrated that we were here together – same place, same time. Celebrated this beauty that we were witnessing and experiencing. Celebrated the rebirth of our natural world in a place that used to be a toxic wasteland.
We transitioned away from this beauty of a green world, to the beauty of a blue one. We passed basking cormorants, swooping gulls, and Canadian geese proudly holding their heads high as we entered the vast lake. Our tranquility shifted to make room for excitement, strength, and resilience. The still waters of the river had turned into the deep and choppy harbour.
We sat atop the mysterious blue water, held in the embrace of the domed blue sky, looking upon the blue glassed city, surrounded by blue shaded flags. We existed within an azureuous harlequin. Now we had to use our strength, patience, and coordination to bring our art to those who waited with those blue glass towers.
This was a different kind of beauty, but beautiful it was. The glistening towers showed a beauty that can be made by human ingenuity, creativity, and teamwork. Although the water bounced us and tossed us, we moved with it in our journey to the city. Our flags blew steady and firm in the gusts of the harbour, bamboo and silk an unbreakable pair whose resiliency mimicked the teams holding them upright. With bumps, bounces, and fierce strokes, we came alongside the edges of Downtown Toronto. Its looming size was in stark contrast to the brushes lining the river, but it did not feel imposing. Instead, it felt like home. A buzzing hive of energy and life. Like the human experience itself, this city also held hope and sadness, joy and anger, new and old. We, with our flags of nature, connected this wonderment with the equal yet different wonderment of Lake Ontario’s natural being.
Feeling accomplished and united, we and our flags disappeared back around the corner, into the oasis of Biidaasige Park.”
About the author: Rebecca Henderson is completing her Master’s in Public Health at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she researches bike lane infrastructure in Ontario. Passionate about building healthier, more active cities, she is committed to helping Toronto continue to be a dynamic and thriving place to live. Having grown up in The Bahamas, Rebecca has a deep connection to water. Volunteering with A Lake Story gave her the chance to return to the water in her new home of Toronto, while also helping raise awareness of the city’s natural environment and contributing to its community life.