Reggae Lane mural unveiled in Toronto

On Saturday, the Eglinton West neighbourhood got a new 1,200 square foot mural that throws a spotlight on Toronto's rich history with reggae music and culture.

Last year, Ward 15 Councillor Josh Colle helped rename the oft-overlooked roadway, at Eglinton and Oakwoods, Reggae Lane. Together with the public arts organization The STEPS Initiative and The Laneway Project, Toronto-based artist Adrian Hayles and a group of young painters created a massive outdoor mural to makeover the space.

To celebrate the new initiative, numerous reggae musicians, including Jay Douglas, performed. Accordingly, Douglas played an original song called Reggae Lane.

Along with the music, the event included food, such as mini patties, as well as cake cutting ceremony.

Heritage Toronto gave the laneway a historic plaque to commemorate Toronto's history as a reggae hotspot. Beyond the mural, the laneway is also undergoing a revitalization project that's funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

For now though, Toronto residents can enjoy the mural that pays homage to a distinct part of this city's culture.

Photos by Hector Vasquez.