More than 100 canoes will completely take over Toronto Harbour next month

A massive crowd of canoes rowing in unison will soon take over the lakefront in Toronto.

The latest eye-catching installation organized by The Bentway takes to the waters, promising a unique sight for passersby on the waterfront this September. Called "A Lake Story," this art project by Melissa McGill, in collaboration with Jason Logan, will showcase over 100 canoes taking sail across Toronto's waterfront.

How's that for a visual treat?

On September 27 and 28, the installation aims to become one with the lake by merging colour, paddles, canoes, wind, and water all into one giant piece of art. The 100+ canoes procession will travel from the new Biidaasige Park to Sugar Beach and beyond. 

And that's not the only thing setting this installation apart from others. Each canoe will have aboard colour field paintings created with pigments sourced from the lake/shoreline and "activated by the wind."

Talking about how this commission is the perfect fit for the city, Ilana Altman, Co-Executive Director of The Bentway, says: "Since our inception, The Bentway has aimed to build greater connectivity across Toronto's waterfront. A Lake Story will give new visual voice to this work and to the identity of the water itself – deploying the unique power of public art to unite communities and geographies." 

McGill is an internationally renowned artist who specializes in "site-specific projects" that bring together visual art and nature. 

She's excited to bring this project to life, and that too, in Toronto, calling the collaboration with The Bentway and local groups "to celebrate the vitality of Lake Ontario, [...] deeply inspiring."

"This vibrant, waterborne canoe procession brings us together to engage with Toronto's watershed, celebrating our interconnectedness by writing the lake's own colour story across the sky and reflected in its waters," said McGill.

Logan specializes in curating ink out of pretty much anything, and so, this duo sounds like a match made in heaven for a project like A Lake Story. 

Toronto residents are excited to see this collaboration come to life. One art-lover says, "Thank you for holding space for the voice of water, flow, story, interconnectedness, and love." Another is in awe of the official rendering: "Congratulations, this looks so gorgeous in the rendering. The real thing will surely be incredible!"

The Bentway is currently looking for 500 volunteers to join their team for this event. Roles include both water and land-based opportunities, and they encourage anyone interested and experienced in boating, canoeing, arts/culture, ecology, and/or community engagement to apply.

A Lake Story will take place at 51 Commissioners Street in Toronto.