ICONIC CANADIANA | PEOPLE | PLACES | FOOD #SEETORONTONOW 150 BEST CANADIAN THINGS from Eh to Zed ALL CANADIAN, ALL IN TORONTO! HAPPY 150TH CANADA! Interior Design Show 44–45 HUDSON’S BAY SWAG Two iconic pieces of Canadiana come from the country’s oldest department store: First, there’s the Hudson’s Bay Company multi- stripe point blanket, introduced into the fur trade in 1780. Its traditional green, red, yellow and indigo stripes, initially selected for their ease of reproduction, are as covetable a design today as they were then. More recently, it’s those ubiquitous Red Mittens. Launched Johnson [prints], Smythe in 2009, the knitted [jackets], brunswick+co. [bags], mitts have raised more and Ridgely Studio Works than $27 million for 43 [lighting and furniture].” our Olympic athletes. Get your hands on (and The Retail Scene in) both at the Hudson’s SARAH RICHARDSON “My favourite journeys are Bay flagship store on Canada’s design sweetheart, through the vintage, antique Queen Street West. Sarah Richardson is more than and consignment shops—the an HGTV superstar (check out thrill of the hunt provides a her latest show, Real Potential). great adventure! The Door Richardson also runs her own Store, Ribbehege & Azevedo design firm and designs a fabric and Decorum Decorative collection for Kravet. Here’s Finds are great uptown spots. 46–47 what the décor maven loves The vintage scene on Queen MAPLE TREES + most about Toronto design. East, West and downtown “THE MAPLE LEAF never lets me down: Vintage FOREVER” Eclecticism Fine Objects, The Queen “Toronto’s scene is both estab- West Antique Centre, Guff, Alongside a collection lished and emerging. Whether Bronze, Phil’z, Ethel 20th of fauna—the beaver, your taste runs to conservative Century Living, Zig Zag, and the moose, Mounties!— traditionalism or experimental Eclectisaurus.” our ubiquitous maple modernism, you can find what- tree is a heartfelt ever you’re in the market for.” symbol of pride. We even have a song about The Festival Scene it—“The Maple Leaf “I never miss the Art With Forever,” composed in Heart auction for Casey 1867, the year of Canada’s House—it’s a super way to buy Confederation. The great art from emerging and Leslieville-neighbourhood established artists in a fun tree that inspired it environment. The Interior toppled during a Design Show brings the design 2013 windstorm, community every year and but a carved portion draws a variety of global talent lives on at the Ontario and speakers.” Science Centre. Toronto Labels “There are so many talented HGTV (SARAH RICHARDSON); ISTOCK minds in the city: Virginia @SeeTorontoNow @SeeTorontoNow 2016 TORONTO 11 ARTS + CULTURE INSTAGRAMMABLE 65 i 71 72 THE NATIONAL PUBLIC ART BALLET OF CANADA Check out these quintessentially (Yonge Street and St. Clair Canadian pieces around town. Avenue West), the street artist Karen Kain, Canada’s Phlegm has created an ballet superstar and v Relax at The Pasture, where eight-storey mural of a the artistic director of Saskatchewan artist Joe Fafard curled-up human figure that the The National Ballet created a herd of resting on closer view is an intricate of Canada, has put bronze cows to remind us of composite of Toronto’s together an impressive ties to farmers and the land, in landmarks and buildings. lineup for 2017, including the courtyard of the Toronto- A Streetcar Named Desire Dominion Centre. v New this year is a statue of and the Darwin-inspired Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth Genus. The company’s v A big, welcoming red canoe II, the only enthroned statue of Sharing Dance Canada you can stand in by famed her in the world, by artist Ruth initiative, with its Canadian writer-artist Douglas Abernethy for the commemo- aim to get one million Coupland peers over the ration of Canada’s 150th year Canadians dancing, Gardiner Expressway and of Confederation. Fittingly, the was chosen as a Canada offers a view of Lake Ontario at statue resides at Queen’s Park. 150 Signature Project in Canoe Landing, a park south celebration of Canada’s of Fort York Boulevard. v Vibrant, expansive and sesquicentennial. always evolving, the graffiti v Near the ferries that take alleyway one block south of you to the Toronto Islands, Queen Street West, starting hop on the front of the bronze at Spadina and stretching tandem bike statue that is to Portland Street, is where a memorial to much-loved you can experience the city’s hometown politician Jack urban voice. This roughly Layton, former leader of the 1 km (half-mile) stretch of federal NDP party. street art is called Graffiti Alley (and also Rush Lane) and v On the side of an unassuming is city sanctioned. office building in midtown v Experience a romantic and 73 Canoe Landing pastoral side of the city in TORONTO SYMPHONY Scarborough’s lush Guild Park ORCHESTRA and Gardens, where salvaged architecture elements co-exist Since 2004, Peter with sculptures such as Bear Oundjian, the music (1979) by E.B. Cox and Michael director of the Clay, and Spaceplough I (1981) Toronto Symphony by Sorel Etrog. Orchestra, has brought international acclaim Jack Layton to the organization and put Toronto on the map. memorial The high note will come this year with the TSO’s Canada Mosaic, a project that will reach into the music archive and commission Canadian composers, culminating in a series of themed concerts in honour of Canada’s big 150th. Graffiti Alley BRUCE ZINGER; TSO; ANNA COSTA; KAYLA CHOBOTIUK 14 TORONTO 2016 www.SeeTorontoNow.com ARTS + CULTURE 85 86 INDIGENOUS ART Toronto’s public art, museums advisors resides in the Daphne and landmarks include signif- Cockwell Gallery of Canada: icant examples of Canadian First Peoples and features more indigenous (also known as First than 1,000 artifacts that tell the THE CBC Nations) culture. Here are some story of Canada’s First Peoples. of the finest. The oldest professional Since 1936, the The Inukshuk is a familiar, indigenous theatre company in Canadian Broadcasting sculptural figure that serves Canada, Native Earth Corporation (CBC) has as a multifaceted guide to the Performing Arts has a full slate provided Canadians with Inuit, both practically and of theatre, dance and multi- a window to our country symbolically. Traditionally, they disciplinary art programming and the world. Much of were built to act as landmarks planned for 2017. that radio and television on the featureless tundra in the The imagineNATIVE perspective is produced Far North. Toronto Inukshuk film + Media Arts Festival from its downtown Park features a 50-tonne happens to be the world’s broadcast centre, whose mountain rose granite version— biggest presenter of indigenous public attractions one of the largest in North screen content. The event, include the CBC Museum America—created by Kellypalik which influences content at and performances in Qimirpik of Nunavut. other Toronto film festivals, the Glenn Gould Studio. Four totem poles carved by like TIFF and Hot Docs Canadian members of the Nisga’a and International Documentary Haida communities of the Festival, celebrates its 18th Pacific Northwest tower above birthday in 2017. the stairways at the Royal Last year was significant Ontario Museum. A special for the Art Gallery of Ontario, gallery influenced by Native as it hired its first curator of indigenous and Canadian art. Toronto Wanda Nanibush, whose roots are Anishinabe from Beausoleil Inukshuk First Nation, has mounted Park her first exhibition, Toronto: 87 Tributes + Tributaries, MUCH 1971–1989, which runs until May 2017. Much’s studios proudly Other strong supporters of occupy a landmark Inuit and First Nations art building at the corner include the Craft Ontario Shop, of Queen and John. as well as Gallery Indigena in The epicentre of youth The Distillery Historic District. pop culture, Canada’s music channel throws Royal Ontario Museum the one-night street party known as the iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards each year, with fans snapping up entry wristbands in less than a minute (in earlier years, fans would line up for days to score them). For a classic photo, take a pic of the CP24 news truck “crashing” out of the brick wall above the building’s parking lot. COSTA ANNA ALAMY; 18 TORONTO 2016 www.SeeTorontoNow.com ICONIC CANADIANA also key players in Canada’s FIRST NATIONS regional ecosystems: by felling 111 Toronto has an trees and creating dams, they extensive indigenous (a.k.a. open up dense forests to First Nations) history. Rather other plant and animal species, than belonging to one First creating new habitats and Nations community, it’s been increasing biodiversity. One home to many since the 1600s, of Canada’s emblems, the including the Hurons, Iroquois world’s second-largest rodent (i.e., Seneca and Mohawk) still resides in Toronto’s urban and Anishinabe (Mississaugas wilderness. Head to the and Ojibwa). In fact, the word Leslie Street Spit or High Park Toronto is said to originate to try to spot these iconic from the Mohawk word Tkaranto, SQUIRRELS creatures or at least their dams. meaning “where there are 106 Love ’em or hate ’em trees in water.” (c’mon, only grouches hate Want to learn more about them!), squirrels are a familiar the city’s indigenous roots? species of urban wildlife. The Native Canadian Centre Toronto’s squirrel population of Toronto operates the consists mainly of red squirrels guided First Story Toronto and eastern grey squirrels Bus Tour (for groups only), (which come in grey and black), which includes stops at plus the mythical white (albino) significant historical landmarks. squirrel, unique to Trinity You can also download the Bellwoods Park and the name free First Story app on iTunes of a café across the street.