Building a home in Willowdale

Gibson House Museum - Staff

This storytelling and sharing route includes a walk around the block in the community, guided by Ana Khundadze, a Canadian-Georgian artist and researcher and Eugene Slonimerov, Canadian-Belarusian urbanist and writer. Each will reflect on lived experience of two different waves of post-Soviet migration, the 1990s and the 2010s.

Together, we’ll explore a living, layered geography where formal infrastructure is shaped by tensions of informal cultural and social systems.

The walk ends by the flood control pond at G. Ross Lord Park, a serene birdwatching spot near the site of the former Don Lake, with time for meditation at the confluence of two creeks.

Some trails are a bit steep, but the route can be adjusted to be accessible. Participants are encouraged to contribute stories, take photos, and sketch. We'll stop by a Georgian bakery to grab bread and continue walking. The final portion is open-ended for relaxing, mingling, or exploring local spots.