Beachfront Boardwalk Panels

Beachfront Park Boardwalk Panels

As part of this project, five Indigenous artists each contributed four unique designs, which have been laser-cut onto panels installed along the boardwalk.  Each panel is accompanied by a description, written by the artist, sharing the story and cultural significance behind their work.  These art pieces invite visitors to reflect on the deep connections between Indigenous communities, the land and the water.  This new space offers a place to walk, ride, and connect-with nature, with community, and with the stories that continue to shape this shoreline.

Dee Barsy

These designs are abstract representations of woodpecker species found in the Pickering area.  The woodpeckers are depicted alongside the leaves of native tree species and local butterfly and moth species.  Dee drew inspiration from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Citizen Potawatomi Nation).

Emily Clairoux

The works of art depict beavers in various states of being.  Beavers represent wisdom in Anishinaabe culture as they are the builders of their entire ecosystem.  The work that the beavers do by building dams help to support the wildlife around them, and the beaver reminds us that we all have gifts and purpose in this world.  The first panel depicts beavers swimming in the water, the second depicts a beaver swimming toward their dam, the third depicts a beaver lodge, and the forth depicts a beaver with a log on the shoreline.

Nyle Miigizi Johnston

Nyle Miigizi Johnston, and Anishinaabe artist, has designed four interconnected works deeply rooted in Indigenous oral histories and land-based teachings.  His four works titled Calling in the Thunderbirds, Within The Turtle Lodge, Safe Passage Across the Great Lakes and Greeting The New Day visually narrate themes of renewal, strength, and respect for the natural world.  These works collectively aim to embed Indigenous presence and resilience into the beachfront landscape.

Tessa Shank

My intention for this artwork was to honour the life and spirit of Lake Ontario.  Each panel features an animal that can be found above or below the shores of Lake Ontario, and each is accompanied by different creatures, insects, and plants that live alongside them.  Together they create a narrative of beings, all of which are interconnected through elements in the design to emphasize the vital balance that exists within the diversity of nature.

Koren Smoke

Strawberries are the heart berries, both in their shape and and their health benefits.  In ceremony, strawberries are honoured and used as a special gift.  Since they are the only fruit that have their seeds on the outside, they are a symbol of honesty and baring of true identity.  The Turtle Island design depicts a turtle with a strawberry and wild rice on it's back and a sun and a moon.  The origin story of the Anishinaabe Peoples is that we come from Turtle Island.  The Manoomin design depicts the harvesting wild rice, an important source of food and medicine for the Anishinaabe Peoples.  The Water is Life design depicts the importance of water.  It provides life and medicine.  It has the power to clean and nourish and without clean water, we simply could not survive.  In ceremony, we always give thanks and honour the water.