Infrastructure, art, and food history of Brockton Village. (with a Scavenger Hunt)

Lansdowne Avenue is being reimagined through investments in active transportation infrastructure and public art.

Starting at West Lodge Park and travelling north on Lansdowne Ave, we will talk about the cycling concrete barriers, roadway and pedestrian design through both a technical and social justice lens. As we walk along Lansdowne we’ll examine the relationship between public art, accessibility, cultural identity, and food.

Our three guides will weave together what we see on the street connecting it to deeper stories of the communities that have shaped this neighbourhood. We will also facilitate a scavenger hunt where participants will be invited to find (and keep) small ceramic artworks along our route.

At Dundas Street we will turn east and explore the immigrant histories that have made the stretch a destination for diverse cuisines and grocers, and will draw a line between the art on Lansdowne, the food and cultural traditions it reflects, and the living neighbourhoods around us.

As with many neighbourhoods in Toronto, Brockton village was home to a growing population from as early as the 1840’s with Irish immigrants and then again in the early 20th century with Portuguese immigrants. Two candy factories in this neighbourhood provided employment for waves of immigrants and olfactory delight for everyone.

While the Portuguese influence remains strong in this neighbourhood, other cultural groups have moved and opened shops, restaurants, and cafes in this working-class community. Our walk will include stories of this history, a taste of some sweets and a snack at our final destination, Rise-Up Foods, a shop that thoughtfully sources food, pantry staples, snacks and drinks.